Ligue 1: Lens, a winning return to the top flight
Yannick Cahuzac, the Lensois captain, surrounded by his teammates after scoring at the Bollaert stadium against Metz, March 14, 2021. FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP / Archives
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 min
The promoted Lens confirmed this Sunday, April 11, his fifth place in Europe by dominating Lorient (4-1).
RC Lens remains one of the most beautiful surprises of this 2020/2021 season with a very noticed return to the elite of French football.
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“
I enjoyed playing and helping my friends.
We have a very good group and we are all moving forward together,
”commented defender Clément Michelin after the Lensois victory over Lorient.
Despite the absences of five players affected by Covid-19 including several usual holders (Loïc Badé, Facundo Medina, Seko Fofana, Igniatus Ganago and Tony Mauricio), the Blood and Gold, also deprived of the striker Florian Sotoca affected in the calf, still performed very well and extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games (5 wins, 6 draws).
The Artesiens, very efficient, won thanks to goals from Gaël Kakuta (15th sp), Corentin Jean (39th), Arnaud Kalimuendo (55th) and Simon Banza (88th sp) while Terem Moffi had equalized for the Merlus in first period (29th).
"
Lens is something that flashes in our memories
"
Since his return to Ligue 1, Lens has commanded respect.
“
We will soon have to face Lille and Monaco.
Let's first prepare for the decisive match in Lens this Saturday
.
It will bring back good memories, because it is a real football club.
[…] Lens is something that flashes in our memories.
I really want us to make the suspense last until the end,
”said Jean-Michel Aulas, president of Olympique Lyonnais, before the 31st day.
In Bollaert, the Lyonnais were finally held in check (1-1) and left the podium to leave third place to Monaco.
At the end of January, Lens was the promoted of the five major European championships (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France) who had collected the most points, with an average of 1.55 points per game.
“
At the start of the season, we were promoted and maybe some people took us a bit lightly.
We took advantage of that and we took a lot of points,
”explained Florian Sotoca, striker of the northern club.
Maintenance assured since February
In February, by winning at home against Dijon (2-1), RC Lens, who had been relegated to Ligue 2 in 2015, had already officially ensured its maintenance with 40 points.
Franck Haise's men have enough to bulge their chest: since the start of the season, they have beaten the three French clubs involved in the Champions League this season - PSG, Marseille and Rennes.
The return to the elite is more than convincing.
"
We are able to show different aspects in our game, and not just a forward-looking team, we know how to do a lot of other things, otherwise we would not be fifth in the 32nd day
, commented Franck Haise after the victory. facing Lorient.
It is the fruit of work and trust.
The players have gained confidence individually and collectively.
We have every reason to be satisfied, and I am, to be 52 points after 32 days, to have had an 11th game without defeat with 5 wins and 6 draws.
But there are still six matches and especially the next one in Brest.
"
By way of comparison, FC Lorient, opponent of the day and another promoted, is currently 17th in the Ligue 1 standings.
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