RCLRC LensClub page
SPOSporting CPClub page
Squad value€243m
Squad value€413.7m
Key playerFlorian Thauvin
Key playerLuis Suárez
Head coachYannick Cahuzac
Head coachRui Borges
Sporting like to keep the ball and pass it short out of the back. Lens's new coach has drilled them to go straight at that, pressing the moment the other side tries to build, so expect the ball lost in dangerous places.
“Ao mesmo tempo, o treinador pretende manter a identidade de jogo do Sporting, baseada na pressão alta, no futebol apoiado e nas transições rápidas, acrescentando apenas maior robustez ao setor intermédio.”At the same time, the coach wants to keep Sporting's identity, built on a high press, short passing play and fast transitions, only adding more muscle in midfield. our translation
“Atuando maioritariamente num 3-4-3 (ou 3-4-2-1 com os extremos a serem mais interiores atuando nas costas do ponta de lança), o Lens é uma equipa que atua muito com base na projeção e largura dos laterais, pressão na hora do adversário tentar construir e transições rápidas em geral.”Playing mostly in a 3-4-3 (or a 3-4-2-1 with the wingers tucked in behind the striker), Lens are a side built largely on their wing-backs pushing up and giving width, pressing when the opponent tries to build play, and fast transitions in general. our translation
Bola na Rede, Jorge Afonso, 13 Oct 2026
“On avait bien travaillé notre animation défensive pour être hyper proactifs, pour pouvoir les agresser et les empêcher de construire le jeu”We had worked hard on our defensive organisation to be very proactive, so we could get at them and stop them building play. our translation
Lens press as soon as you try to play out from the back. Sporting chase hard too, at least until they tire, so the ball should keep changing hands high up the pitch.
“Atuando maioritariamente num 3-4-3 (ou 3-4-2-1 com os extremos a serem mais interiores atuando nas costas do ponta de lança), o Lens é uma equipa que atua muito com base na projeção e largura dos laterais, pressão na hora do adversário tentar construir e transições rápidas em geral.”Playing mostly in a 3-4-3 (or a 3-4-2-1 with the wingers tucked in behind the striker), Lens are a side built largely on their wing-backs pushing up and giving width, pressing when the opponent tries to build play, and fast transitions in general. our translation
Bola na Rede, Jorge Afonso, 13 Oct 2026
“On avait bien travaillé notre animation défensive pour être hyper proactifs, pour pouvoir les agresser et les empêcher de construire le jeu”We had worked hard on our defensive organisation to be very proactive, so we could get at them and stop them building play. our translation
Olympique & Lyonnais, David Hernandez, 10 Oct 2026
“O Zalazar também caiu bastante em termos físicos e deixámos de ser tão pressionantes.”Zalazar also dropped off a lot physically, and we stopped being so aggressive in the press. our translation
Record, Fábio Lima, 14 Aug 2026
“Ao mesmo tempo, o treinador pretende manter a identidade de jogo do Sporting, baseada na pressão alta, no futebol apoiado e nas transições rápidas, acrescentando apenas maior robustez ao setor intermédio.”At the same time, the coach wants to keep Sporting's identity, built on a high press, short passing play and fast transitions, only adding more muscle in midfield. our translation
Lens get forward quickly down the flanks, and Sporting want to defend high up the pitch, so every time Lens win the ball there should be room to run into behind Sporting's back line.
“Atuando maioritariamente num 3-4-3 (ou 3-4-2-1 com os extremos a serem mais interiores atuando nas costas do ponta de lança), o Lens é uma equipa que atua muito com base na projeção e largura dos laterais, pressão na hora do adversário tentar construir e transições rápidas em geral.”Playing mostly in a 3-4-3 (or a 3-4-2-1 with the wingers tucked in behind the striker), Lens are a side built largely on their wing-backs pushing up and giving width, pressing when the opponent tries to build play, and fast transitions in general. our translation
Bola na Rede, Jorge Afonso, 13 Oct 2026
“Criam muitas situações pelos corredores, chegam à frente com muita rapidez, cruzam muito...”They create a lot of chances down the flanks, get forward very quickly, cross a lot... our translation
Notícias ao Minuto, Davide Rodrigues Araújo, 12 Oct 2026
“Não queríamos isso, fomos conseguindo manter esse bloco alto e, quando baixámos, o Braga andou uma ou outra vez perto da nossa baliza e, no único remate que tem, acaba por fazer golo.”We didn't want that; we managed to keep that high block, and when we dropped deeper Braga got near our goal once or twice and scored from the only shot they had. our translation
Florian Thauvin is the one to watch for Lens, with 3 league goals and 5 assists, in a side that gets forward quickly down the flanks and puts a lot of crosses in. At the other end Luis Suárez has 7 league goals, and Sporting are slight favourites. Sporting's press chases hard but fades as the game wears on, and Lens break forward quickly when they win the ball, so expect chances at both ends. Sporting also want to defend high, which leaves room behind their back line for those Lens breaks.
“Criam muitas situações pelos corredores, chegam à frente com muita rapidez, cruzam muito...”They create a lot of chances down the flanks, get forward very quickly, cross a lot... our translation
Notícias ao Minuto, Davide Rodrigues Araújo, 12 Oct 2026
“O Zalazar também caiu bastante em termos físicos e deixámos de ser tão pressionantes.”Zalazar also dropped off a lot physically, and we stopped being so aggressive in the press. our translation
Record, Fábio Lima, 14 Aug 2026
“Atuando maioritariamente num 3-4-3 (ou 3-4-2-1 com os extremos a serem mais interiores atuando nas costas do ponta de lança), o Lens é uma equipa que atua muito com base na projeção e largura dos laterais, pressão na hora do adversário tentar construir e transições rápidas em geral.”Playing mostly in a 3-4-3 (or a 3-4-2-1 with the wingers tucked in behind the striker), Lens are a side built largely on their wing-backs pushing up and giving width, pressing when the opponent tries to build play, and fast transitions in general. our translation
Bola na Rede, Jorge Afonso, 13 Oct 2026
“Não queríamos isso, fomos conseguindo manter esse bloco alto e, quando baixámos, o Braga andou uma ou outra vez perto da nossa baliza e, no único remate que tem, acaba por fazer golo.”We didn't want that; we managed to keep that high block, and when we dropped deeper Braga got near our goal once or twice and scored from the only shot they had. our translation
Their new coach, Yannick Cahuzac, says the very direct play kept pulling the team apart and letting opponents cut straight through.
“Le fait d’avoir un jeu très direct, ça ouvre notre bloc, et après on a du mal à garder cette compacité et on peut souvent se faire transpercer.”Playing very directly opens up our block, and then we struggle to stay compact and can often get cut open. our translation
Pressing hard has been the priority this season, even with a shaky defence behind it.
“L’entraîneur allemand réclame davantage de maîtrise et de puissance dans le pressing, tout en assumant le manque de régularité de sa défense.”The German coach wants more control and power in the pressing, while admitting his defence lacks consistency. our translation
They want more of the ball, partly to save their legs for pressing.
“L’objectif est clair : mieux conserver le ballon pour garder suffisamment d’énergie au moment de presser et de le récupérer.”The aim is clear: keep the ball better so as to save enough energy for pressing and winning it back. our translation
Sporting play fast and direct, not patiently.
“Güncel taktik veriler de bu 4-2-3-1 tabanını, yüksek tempolu ve dikine bir oyun anlayışıyla tarif ediyor.”The latest tactical data also describe this 4-2-3-1 base as a high-tempo, direct style of play. our translation
Their playmaker starts in the middle but keeps sliding over to the left and cutting inside. That is deliberate: it clears the touchline for the left-back Maxi Araújo to charge past him.
“Explicando a geometria da equipa: o charrua começou por se fixar na posição 10, mas tem derivado com frequência para a esquerda, trocando de posicionamento com Flávio Gonçalves e realizando movimentações interiores para abrir a ala às investidas de Maxi Araújo.”Explaining the team's geometry: the Uruguayan started out fixed in the number 10 position, but has frequently been drifting to the left, swapping positions with Flávio Gonçalves and making inside runs to open up the flank for Maxi Araújo's raids. our translation
This is a much-changed, much younger side than the one that won the league. Expect real quality in patches and then spells where they simply lose the thread.
“O treinador entende que a quebra exibicional do médio se insere nas «dores de crescimento» de um coletivo que sofreu profundas remodelações de uma época para a outra, vendo a sua média de idades descer consideravelmente.”The coach sees the midfielder's dip in form as part of the growing pains of a side that has been deeply remodelled from one season to the next, with its average age falling considerably. our translation