Champions League: after the slaps against Sporting CP and Bruges, Lens in search of a rebound against Como

Completely missing out on the Northern derby against Lille (1-0 defeat), Lens has the opportunity to bounce back on Wednesday against Como (9:00 p.m.), in the Champions League, in a league phase where the Sang et Or need points.

“We must not let doubt settle in,” reacted Lensois coach Yannick Cahuzac on Friday evening. And for good reason: if the Artésiens lost by a small goal against Losc, scored at the very end of the match by Olivier Giroud, they delivered a performance very far from their standards of recent weeks. “We were late on the second balls. We lost quite a few duels too. Our pressing was not effective enough,” listed piston Matthieu Udol. “Technically, in intensity, in commitment, they outclassed us,” admitted Cahuzac. Even Florian Thauvin, often sparkling since the start of the season, missed out.

Fortunately for Lens, the schedule inherent to participation in the Champions League allows “to move on quickly,” continued Udol. But if the Lensois were in good momentum in the league before Friday, with three victories since the last international break, the results are much less rosy at the European level.

After the stunning victory against Slavia Prague (3-2), when Dino Toppmöller was still on the bench, Lens cruelly lacked realism and paid for its defensive mistakes against two more experienced teams in C1, Sporting Portugal and Bruges, for two clear defeats 2 and 3 to 0.

Como arrives full ball

On Wednesday, there will be no experience deficit against Como. Having moved from the Italian third division to the Champions League in five years, the Lombard club made its debut in the biggest European competition. And the “Lariani” are not there to make up the numbers. Large winner of Manchester United two weeks ago (4-1), the team of French international Lucas Da Cunha and Argentinian nugget Nico Paz is in 9th place (6 points) before the 4th day, the best ranked Italian team.

In Serie A, the Italians won a fourth consecutive success on Sunday and are lying in wait at the foot of the podium. But, like the Sang et Or, the Lombards have been engaged in a long marathon of matches since mid-October.