PSV Eindhoven won their duel against RC Lens on the fourth day of the Champions League. The Dutch took advantage of a goal from their captain Luuk de Jong to win their first match in the competition for eight years.
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3 mins
The storm hit the city of Eindhoven and RC Lens. The Sang et Or foiled against PSV in dire weather conditions and conceded defeat against the Dutch club (1-0).
RC Lens, however, presented themselves at the Stade Philips armed with one conviction: a victory would put them at the door of the round of 16. The Lensois press into the PSV camp and recover balls. Sotoca throws Wahi deep. The attacker hooks Ramalho in front of the area but comes up against the return of Dest, who recovers the ball in the position of last defender (4e).
The opportunities follow one another at the start of the match for the Sang et Or but very quickly, the old demons resurface. For the 4e times in as many Champions League matches this season, Lens has conceded the opener. Bakayoko, eccentric to the right at 20 meters, center from the left. De Jong passes Danso to head the ball from the penalty spot. Samba touches the ball. In vain (12e1-0).
A hard blow for Lens who does not admit defeat. Sotoca multiplies initiatives (23e34e) but without finding the flaw. In the pouring rain, tempers flare. The boxes are raining. Six even before the break which is whistled shortly after a slip from Elye Wahi when striking (45e+3).
Upon returning from the locker room, the Lensois regained neither their conviction nor their calm. Gradit and Medina in turn received yellow cards while Lozano (51e59e) and de Jong (53e) continue to involve Brice Samba. The pressing of PSG Eindhoven stifles all the initiatives of the French club.
You have to wait until the hour mark to get some semblance of a reaction. Machado, free from any marking at the far post, slips when taking a perfect cross from Frankowski (60e). Wahi hits and shifts Frankowski who finds Abdul Samed. The Ghanaian sees his shot blocked (62e). Fulgini forces Benitez to save with a well-executed free kick (68e).
Brice Samba almost ruins everything with a restart error. He gave the ball to Bakayoko, but the Belgian’s shot only grazed the Lens corner (72e). It’s then Saibari who performs a little dribbling festival in the Lens area before the defense ends up clearing in disaster (76e).
Brice Samba saves his team on a strike from Lozano (86e). A save which could have proved decisive but Guilavogui found Benitez’s post (87e). Despite multiple attempts at the end of the match, the score remained there. The striker’s red card puts an end to Lensois hopes.
A defeat which does not do the business of RC Lens, which sees its evening opponent move ahead of it in the standings thanks to the particular goal average. The Northerners will have to battle against Arsenal and Sevilla to hope to qualify for the round of 16.