Lens vs. Lyon Preview: Battle of the Tacticians at Boellart

Manager Will Still and Lens are hoping to keep an unbeaten Ligue 1 run intact as they face an Olympique Lyonnais side that grabbed their first win of the season just before the international break in dramatic fashion.

Last time out, Lens managed to take a well-earned point away from home at AS Monaco (1-1) after winning their first two Ligue 1 outings against Angers (1-0) and Brest (2-0). Following a goalless 80 minutes, the clash would burst into life when the Sang & Or found a dramatic equaliser from the penalty spot Przemyslaw Frankowski in the 94th minute.

Les Gones, on the other hand, had to wait until their third outing against Strasbourg to really get their season underway in a dramatic comeback win (4-3). Behind 3-1 just before the hour-mark, goals from Ainsley Maitland-Niles and a brace from Gifft Orban would see Pierre Sage's men seal the three points in style.

A clash between two clubs aiming high up the table, between two thinkers and tacticians known for their ball-playing sides: Lens vs Lyon looks to be an early-season cracker.

Will Still: "It's going to be a very big game."

Lens manager Will Still expects a big test for the Sang & Or, who are still currently unbeaten since the start of the season. "It's going to be a very big game. On an individual level, Lyon have some pretty impressive talent. We're getting ready to face the best version of Lyon, who have had a fairly complicated start to the season (2 defeats in the first 2 games) but that's to be expected when you bring in several new players."

"Against Strasbourg (4-3), Lyon showed good things in a tactical system different from previous matches. We're expecting a great Sunday evening encounter at Bollaert-Delelis."

Pierre Sage on Lyon's ambitions 

In a week in which Lyon owner John Textor laid out in clear terms that OL should be competing at the top of the table this season, manager Pierre Sage highlighted the need to take each game as it comes in his pre-match press conference.

"Anything is possible as long as you play," said Sage in Friday's presser at Lyon's training ground. "We have to play our games and we have to win them. What's important for us now is to confirm our victory over Strasbourg with a good performance against Lens, and that's a big challenge."

"After that, we have a big game at home where we'll be making our debut in the Europa League. We've got a good month of September to see if we're on track with our objectives, and we'll be increasingly ambitious."

RC Lens vs Olympique Lyonnais likely lineups: 

Racing Club de Lens: Samba; Gradit, Khusanov, Medina; Aguilar, Thomasson, Diouf, Chavez, Costa; Sotoca, Said

Olympique Lyonnais: Perri; Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate; Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso, Abner; Mikautadze, Lacazette.

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