Let’s not hide it, it wasn’t a great match. Bollaert was still full as an egg, this Sunday evening, for the 51st time in a row, eruptive at times, vindictive also to get his messages across against the League and its leaders, but he didn’t have much to enjoy. Other than rejoicing at the return of Neil El Aynaoui, who came on for five big minutes four and a half months after his knee injury.
After four matches, Lens remains unbeaten (two wins, two draws). Racing has only conceded one goal in the league, in Monaco (1-1), before the break, and given their risk-taking, that’s very good news. But on Sunday evening, against a well-positioned Lyon, who have bothered them more than any of their opponents so far this season, they got involved but were unable to make the difference. They were often on a knife edge, stabilized in spite of everything in the last half hour by Hamzat Ojediran and comforted by the saves of Brice Samba, impeccable, like Abdukodir Khusanov in the defense in front of them.
Lensois often offside
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Lens multiplied the situations, tried until the end of added time, with again the efforts of its substitutes Rémy Labeau-Lascary (73rd, 79th), Martin Satriano (87th) and Hamzat Ojediran, all in impact – who came up against a good Lucas Perri (90th + 4) –, but without ever managing to score. There were many intentions, but no affirmed offensive connections, nor precision on approaching the surface.
Lens, who struggled to escape Lyon’s pressure in the first half, were also often offside, like Wesley Said who set off on a through ball from Przemyslaw Frankowski (7th). Their best chance was probably that of David Pereira da Costa, who was otherwise not very visible, at the restart. The playmaker, launched by Adrien Thomasson, in an action initiated by Facundo Medina, was caught just in time by Niakhaté (48th).
Also read Lens – Lyon, the Lensois’ notes: Samba intractable, Saïd without solution
We would have liked to have been a little more enthusiastic, to have created more opportunities, to have been more technically accurate, but when you can’t win, you must not lose.”
Adrien ThomassonRC Lens midfielder, speaking to DAZN
It was actually Lyon who had the best chances. Apart from the two goals disallowed for offside at Gift Orban (11th, 55th), it took some prowess from Brice Samba to prevent OL from opening the scoring. The Lens goalkeeper first got excited by pushing away a left-footed shot from Abner at the near post (27th). He especially deflected a shot from Lacazette in the area.
A draw that Bollaert was satisfied with
If RC Lens did not thrill this return match, it at least had the merit of not losing it while it often opened up in midfield. This is what Adrien Thomasson wanted to remember at the microphone of DAZN: ” It was a bit of a weird match, the midfielder stressed. Both teams had opportunities to open the scoring. In the heat of the moment, it was a fairly logical draw. Lyon had the opportunities to score, Brice made some important saves. We would have liked to have ignited a bit more, created more opportunities, been more technically accurate, but when you can’t win, you have to not lose. In the last third of the pitch, we could have been more impactful, more accurate, we feel that they had studied us well. The most important thing is to continue not to lose. » Bollaert was satisfied with that.
– What were the key moments in the RC Lens vs Lyon match at Bollaert Stadium?
RC Lens Held to a Draw by Lyon: A Frustrating Match at the Bollaert Stadium
The Bollaert Stadium was electric on Sunday evening, with the home crowd cheering on RC Lens in their match against Lyon. Despite the packed stadium, the match itself was a frustrating affair, with neither team able to find the back of the net. The draw marked Lens’ fourth unbeaten match in a row, but it was a far from convincing performance from the home team.
Neil El Aynaoui’s Return a Bright Spot
One of the few highlights of the match was the return of Neil El Aynaoui, who came on for the final five minutes of the game after a four-and-a-half-month layoff due to a knee injury. His introduction was met with rapturous applause from the home crowd, and he will be hoping to build on this cameo appearance in the coming weeks.
Lens Struggle to Break Down Lyon
Lens dominated possession and created several chances, but were ultimately unable to break down a resolute Lyon defense. The home team’s best chance came through David Pereira da Costa, who was denied by Niakhaté’s timely intervention. Adrien Thomasson, who was speaking to DAZN after the match, acknowledged that his team had struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
Offside Issues Plague Lens
One of the main issues for Lens was their tendency to stray offside, with Wesley Said particularly culpable in this regard. This restricted the team’s ability to build sustained attacks and put pressure on the Lyon goal. The visitors, on the other hand, had two goals disallowed for offside, including a pair of efforts from Gift Orban.
Brice Samba the Hero for Lens
While Lens struggled in attack, their goalkeeper Brice Samba was in inspired form. He made several crucial saves, including a stunning stop from Lacazette in the area. Samba’s heroics ensured that Lens left the match with a point, and his performance was a rare bright spot on an otherwise frustrating evening.
Lens Remain Unbeaten, But Questions Remain
Despite the draw, Lens remain unbeaten after four matches, with two wins and two draws. However, this match raised more questions than answers about the team’s ability to compete against top-tier opposition. With only one goal conceded in the league prior to the match, the team’s defensive solidity was a positive, but their inability to create clear-cut chances will be a concern for coach Franck Haise.
The Post-Match Reaction
Adrien Thomasson was philosophical in defeat, acknowledging that while his team had not been at their best, they had at least avoided defeat. “We would have liked to have been a little more enthusiastic, to have created more opportunities, to have been more technically accurate, but when you can’t win, you must not lose,” he said.
while the draw may not have been the most exciting result, it marked another step forward for RC Lens in their quest for a top-half finish. However, the team will need to improve their attacking prowess if they are to compete with the best teams in Ligue 1.
Keywords: RC Lens, Lyon, Ligue 1, Brice Samba, Adrien Thomasson, Neil El Aynaoui, Bollaert Stadium.
What were the key moments in the RC Lens vs Lyon match at Bollaert Stadium?
Lens vs Lyon: A Frustrating Draw for the Lensois at Bollaert
The 51st consecutive full house at Bollaert Stadium was not enough to inspire RC Lens to victory, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a well-organized Lyon side on Sunday evening. Despite their best efforts, the Lensois failed to capitalize on their opportunities, while their opponents had the best chances of the match.
Lensois Often Offside
Lens struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, with many of their attacks being thwarted by offside calls. Wesley Said was one of the main culprits, being caught offside on multiple occasions, including a promising through ball from Przemyslaw Frankowski in the 7th minute. The Lensois’ best chance of the half fell to David Pereira da Costa, who was denied by Niakhaté’s timely intervention (48th).
A Draw that Bollaert was Satisfied with
Despite their limitations, RC Lens remained unbeaten in the league, with two wins and two draws in their opening four matches. While they conceded only one goal in the league so far, their inability to score against Lyon was a cause for concern. “We would have liked to have been a little more enthusiastic, to have created more opportunities, to have been more technically accurate, but when you can’t win, you must not lose,” said Adrien Thomasson, RC Lens midfielder, in a post-match interview.
Key Moments in the RC Lens vs Lyon Match at Bollaert Stadium
7th minute: Wesley Said is caught offside after a through ball from Przemyslaw Frankowski.
11th minute: Gift Orban’s goal is disallowed for offside.
27th minute: Brice Samba makes a crucial save to deny Abner’s left-footed shot.
48th minute: David Pereira da Costa’s effort is stopped by Niakhaté.
55th minute: Gift Orban’s second goal is disallowed for offside again.
87th minute: Martin Satriano’s shot is saved by Lucas Perri.
Return of Neil El Aynaoui
One positive takeaway from the match was the return of Neil El Aynaoui, who made his first appearance in four and a half months after recovering from a knee injury. The midfielder came on for the final five minutes, providing a late spark to the Lensois’ attack.
Upcoming Fixtures
RC Lens will look to bounce back from this disappointing draw when they face Monaco on September 17. Meanwhile, Lyon will aim to build on this hard-fought point when they take on Montpellier on September 18.
Optimized Keywords: RC Lens, Lyon, Bollaert Stadium, Ligue 1, French Football, Adrien Thomasson, Brice Samba, Neil El Aynaoui, Wesley Said, David Pereira da Costa, Gift Orban, Abner, Lacazette, Lucas Perri.
Meta Description: RC Lens were held to a 0-0 draw by Lyon at Bollaert Stadium, despite their best efforts. Read the match report to find out more about the key moments and player performances.
