One to Watch: Neil El Aynaoui becoming the main man at Lens
One To Watch
The Moroccan playmaker made all the difference against Marseille this weekend, and he is quickly confirming his status as one of Will Still's key creative outlets for Racing Club de Lens.
A looped ball over the top of the Marseille defence and Diever Machado latches onto it to drive into the box. It's the last minute of injury-time at the Vélodrome, and after a solid defensive display, Lens have a golden opportunity to get back to winning ways after four matches. Machado shifts inside, Valentin Rongier falls to the ground as two Marseille defenders scramble to try and block the Colombian.
Neil El Aynaoui makes a late run into the box and Machado spots him with a neatly played pass. The Moroccan has only one thing in mind: hit the ball into the roof of the net and secure the three points for the Sang & Or. He does exactly that, and sends the 400 Lens fans who travelled from the North into a frenzy in the process.
"It was like a high-speed train coming at me from the left side, it's indescribable," said a joyous El Aynaoui following the match against Marseille. "This happiness came all at once, and already says a lot about our performance here."
Against Marseille, the 23-year-old confirmed his rising status as a decisive player for Will Still and Racing Club de Lens. The Nancy-born offensive midfielder has had to adapt to life in Ligue 1 McDonald's since moving from the third tier last season.
WATCH: Neil El Aynaoui's wonderstrike against Marseille
In Morocco, the name El Aynaoui is already familiar to sports followers. Neil's father Younes El Aynaoui was not a footballer, but a renowned tennis player who won the ATP tour five times and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No.14 in 2003. Two years earlier, Neil was born and would join the youth academy of AS Nancy at the age of 8.
In 2021 Neil El Aynaoui made his professional debut for the club in Ligue 2, then finding himself playing an integral role after the club were relegated to the Championnat National in 2022. In a difficult context at the club, the midfielder became a shining light of hope and made 67 appearances, scoring six goals in the process. After making his name as one of the most promising players in the French third tier, it would be Racing Club de Lens who took a chance on the young playmaker in 2023.
It wasn't always easy…
Yet his first season would be marked by injury setbacks, a failed transfer over the summer, and increased competition. "I was more impatient than frustrated because it is my passion. Watching my teammates play is hard. One must be patient, and the coaching staff has managed my return well. However, I found the time dragged on."
El Aynaoui found that it was an experience that "hardened" him. And now he's playing his best football. A dynamic player that can drift between the lines, the 23-year-old has taken more offensive responsibility this season. The Moroccan has replaced Przemysław Frankowski as the club's penalty taker, and has notched all four of his goals for RC Lens this campaign.
"I try to do my job, concentrate on myself and on everything I have to do," said the Moroccan in an interview with L'Équipe. "It's not in my nature to turn up and have everyone notice me. Now, if you'd asked me a year ago if I was going to play this much, I wouldn't have thought so. It can only encourage me in my day-to-day work."
After the jubilant scenes at the Vélodrome on Saturday evening, it seems that hard work is starting to pay off as Lens got back to winning ways and are hoping to finish the season strongly in the top half of the Ligue 1 McDonald's table.
