Lens is almost assured to participate in the next Champions League after defeating Toulouse on Friday night in the opening match of the 30th round of Ligue 1. The RC Lens came back from behind to secure the victory against Toulouse FC (3-2) at Bollaert on Friday night. Trailing 2-0 after just 13 minutes, Pierre Sage’s players turned the tide after the break against a team reduced to ten men following Yann Gboho’s dismissal (17th).
Saud Abdulhamid initiated the revolt (61st), followed a few minutes later by Adrien Thomasson (67th). It took extra time for Ismaël Ganiou to free the Sang et Or (90th+1) and bring them temporarily within one point of PSG leading the standings. Paris Saint-Germain is set to face Lyon on Sunday night.
“The RC Lens in the Champions League, it’s (almost) done,” said the Lens coach at a press conference. “With ten men, Toulouse abandoned rapid attacks and retreated,” he analyzed. “It was important to end this match and the season with a special victory. We are one match away from qualification for the Champions League.” That is on a mathematical basis. The statistics further support this. Based on past seasons, qualification for the Champions League is secured for Lens, with all 19 teams in elite leagues having finished on the podium after accumulating at least 62 points in the first 29 matches since the introduction of the 3-point victory in 1994-1995, as indicated by the Stats Foot account on X. A well-deserved reward for Florian Thauvin’s teammates.
