RC Lens in Europe: 5 Magic Moments
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Set to take part once more in European football in the UEFA Europa Conference League Play-off round tomorrow, we look back at some of Lens' biggest moments on the continental stage.
2023/2024 Champions League Group Stage RC Lens 2-1 Arsenal
One of the finest moments of the Franck Haise era at Lens, even if the team failed to progress from the group, they still acquitted themselves bravely over the course of the six matches, and none more so than against Mikel Arteta’s side. In a taut encounter, Lens battled back from a goal down thanks to strikes from Elye Wahi and Adrien Thomasson, getting a vital three points that would see them top the group after two matchdays.
2006/2007 UEFA Cup Round of 32 First Leg RC Lens 3-1 Panathanaikos
While a 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture meant that Lens would sweat their progress to the next round, they turned in an impressive performance at home against the Greek side — coincidentally their foe tomorrow evening. Issam Jemâa, only fleetingly effective in the league, notched a brace — two of four goals he would score in the competition, often off the bench, and while the team would be relegated the next season, this campaign marked the end of what had been a very impressive decade of regular European football.
2002/2003 Champions League Group Stage RC Lens 2-1 AC Milan
Drawn in an incredibly difficult group alongside Bayern Munich, Deportivo La Coruña and the Rossonero, Lens would come third, but delivered several memorable encounters as they gamely finished with eight points — six better than the German side. On this occasion, Milan, who would go on to win the competition that season, and boasted the likes of Andrey Shevchenko, Andrea Pirlo and Paolo Maldini, came to the Stade Bollaert having won each of their first four matches — a point on the occasion would have sufficed to see Carlo Ancelotti’s side top the group, but it wasn’t to be as Lens came back from an early Shevchenko goal to run out 2-1 winners, with John Utaka getting a goal and an assist.
1999/2000 UEFA Cup Round of 32 Second Leg FC Kaiserslauten 1-4 RC Lens
Down 2-1 after a frustrating home leg in which they struggled to get to grips with their German opponents, Francois Brisson’s side roared back with a comprehensive away win. Joseph Désire-Job was man of the match with a brace and two assists as Lens took the lead early doors before shaking off an equalizer conceded moments later to run out comfortable winners, 5-3 on aggregate. Lens would go on to reach the semifinals of the competition, only to be eliminated by Arsenal in a closely fought tie.
1998/1999 Champions League Group Stage RC Lens 1-0 Panathanaikos
While Le Sang et Or would lose the reverse fixture, only narrowly missing out on progression through goal difference to Arsenal, their group stage campaign was a thrilling one off having won their first (and to date only) league title the previous season. In a team boasting summer signing Daniel Moreira, Vladimir Smicer and cult hero Tony Vairelles, the two sides played a testy encounter before substitute Wagneau Eloi found the winner in the 81st minute allowing the hosts to stay on course for qualification. Might a repeat of this scoreline be in the offing to help Will Still and company secure their place in the league phase as these teams clash for a third time?
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