RC Lens traveled to Reims this Friday to open the 13th day of Ligue 1. The Sang et Or, who abandoned their traditional 3-5-2 at kick-off, were able to bounce back after their defeat against Marseille (1 -3) by logically winning 2-0 in Reims. Hot throwback to this meeting.
Reims-RC Lens : 0-2 (0-1)
Friday November 29, 2024 – 8:45 p.m. – 13th day of Ligue 1
Auguste Delaune Stadium
Referee: Abdelatif Kherradji
The match sheet:
Reims : Ye. , Nakamura (Fly, 67′).
Substitutes: Olliero (l.), Bamba, De Smet, Diadié.
Coach : L. Elsner.
RC Lens : Samba – Frankowski, Khusanov, Danso, Medina – Thomasson, Diouf (El Aynaoui, 46′) – Labeau Lascary (Sotoca, 71′), Fulgini (Ojediran, 78′), Zaroury (Machado, 77′) – Nzola (Chavez, 88′)
Substitutes: Koffi (g.), Gradit, Pereira Da Costa, Sarr.
Coach : W. Still.
Buts : Thomasson (23′), Nzola (61′) for Lens.
Warnings: Atangana (42′) in Reims; A. Diouf (32′), Labeau Lascary (66′) in Lens.
Expulsions : -.
The match:
Will Still announced the need to make changes after RC Lens' 3-1 defeat against OM. He was not light-handed with 5 modifications in the starting lineup and a move to a 4-man defense built thanks to the Frankowski-Danso-Khusanov-Medina quartet, while ahead of the pair Diouf-Thomasson, Zaroury, Fulgini and Labeau Lascary were responsible for animation in support of Nzola. The latter, well launched by Zaroury, was the first to highlight a good call. Unable to sufficiently straighten his shot in an off-center position, he did not hit the target, but it was only a postponement for a Lens rather at ease, supported by a yardage of 1000 Lensois supplemented by a Nice “against -parking”. In the 23rd minute, Thomasson saw a ball headed back by the Reims defense return to him at the entrance to the area. The midfielder then places a victorious strike, opening the score for the Sang et Or (0-1, 23′).
More aggressive, well in place, the Lensois maintain the pressure, Reims being able to thank Kipre for his authoritarian tackle on Fulgini at 6 meters after a good ball from Zaroury (25'). The Lensois then fell back a little further, doing the business of the restless Ito. The latter served Nakamura in the area for Reims' best chance of the first period. Samba, however, was careful to repel the Japanese striker's cross strike (41'). And despite Champagne's renewed form, it was close to 2-0 when Labeau Lascary managed to slip into the area before seeing Reims goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf block his shot.
Nzola doubles the mental challenge
Contrary to what its bad habits dictate, this time RC Lens approaches the second half having been able to reward itself for its efforts in the first. Will Still still makes a change upon returning from the locker room by taking out a warned Diouf who saw the 2nd hanging in his face to replace him with El Aynaoui. The Lensois are the most dangerous during the first quarter of an hour. But Yehvann Diouf bursts perfectly into the feet of Labeau Lascary at the edge of the area on an opening from Fulgini. The ball comes back to Nzola who tries from afar but the Reims goalkeeper had time to come back. Then the player on loan from Fiorentina misses a huge opportunity by not scoring face to face with the goalkeeper (60′). But the Artesian center forward demonstrates that he has the mentality. A minute later, found in the area, he caught the ball, turned around and slipped it out of reach of Diouf, this time beaten. The break is made, Lens leads 2-0.
The plan seems perfect for RC Lens who only have to manage their 2 goal lead against a Reims team who have already struggled until now to put them in difficulty. Racing, however, got a big scare when on a corner, a bit like against OM, it suffered a huge counterattack from Reims, at the end of which Ito failed on a solid Samba (73'). But overall, the Sang et Or managed their two-goal advantage quite calmly against a Reims team which often seemed powerless. Will Still thus signs a victory for his return to an Auguste-Delaune stadium which has been so successful for him in the past and sees his changes pay off. Racing has returned to the much sought-after efficiency both offensively and defensively. Reassuring. The Lensois coach surprised us to the point that we saw Chavez go in front at the very end of the game for Nzola. A sign of beautiful serenity. And thanks to this success, RC Lens temporarily takes 6th place with 20 points.
Facts to remember:
3′: Zaroury throws Nzola perfectly, a little off-center on the left side. His shot is not straightened enough and ends up in the side net.
20′: Off-center free kick for Lens, Andy Diouf puts it in the area, it is deflected by Teuma and it hits Danso's head, Yehvann Diouf, the Reims goalkeeper, is attentive and catches the ball.
23′: GOAL FOR LENS: On a cross from Frankowski, Nzola is headed by a defender, but the ball is returned at the entrance to the area to Thomasson who sends a shot into the back of the net in return. 0-1.
25′: Very good ball from Zaroury for Fulgini launched on the left side in the area, but Kipré blocks his path to goal as he strikes with a superb tackle.
38′: Good cross from Ito for Akieme's header at the far post. The ball goes past Samba's goal.
41′: Ito slides to Nakamura in the area, the latter's cross shot is repelled by Samba.
44′: Great acceleration on the right side from Labeau Lascary who enters the area and strikes, the Reims goalkeeper manages to divert his shot.
55′: Yehvann Diouf bursts into the feet of Labeau Lascary just at the edge of the area on a through ball from Fulgini, it comes back to Nzola who takes his chance from afar but Diouf returns to his goals.
60′: Perfect ball from Danso who finds Nzola in the middle, the attacker seems to have plenty of time to adjust Diouf but it doesn't fit.
61′: GOAL FOR LENS: Served in the area by Fulgini, Nzola grabs the ball in the middle of the Reims defenders, turns around and slides the ball out of Diouf's reach on a nice sequence. 0-2
73′: Lens, who lead 2-0, find themselves suffering from a huge counter situation on a corner in their favor. However, Samba intervenes brilliantly against Ito.
The program for the 13th day of Ligue 1
Already played:
Reims-RC Lens : 0-2
Saturday November 30 at 5 p.m. on BeIN Sports 1:
Rennes-Saint-Etienne
Saturday November 30 at 7 p.m. on DAZN:
Brest-Strasbourg
Saturday November 30 at 9 p.m. on DAZN:
PSG-Nantes
Sunday, December 1 at 3 p.m. on DAZN:
Montpellier-Lille
Sunday, December 1 at 5 p.m. on DAZN:
Lyon-Nice
Le Havre-Angers
Toulouse-Auxerre
Sunday, December 1 at 8:45 p.m. on DAZN:
Marseille-Monaco
