The Lensois are ready. Four days before the decisive clash against the English Arsenal, as part of the 5e day of the group stage of the Champions League, the Sang et Or took care of their preparation by winning on the Clermont lawn (3-0), Saturday November 25, in Ligue 1. A comfortable success in appearance, but also marked by great nervousness in both ranks, which could have cost the Artesian club dearly a few minutes before half-time.
Before getting there, the Lensois delivered a performance reminding us why this club is the reigning vice-champion of France. Largely dominant, Franck Haise’s men multiplied the offensive waves on the cage of Clermont’s Mory Diaw. One man particularly attracted the lights in the Clermont night: Elye Wahi.
The most expensive recruit in the history of Lens (35 million euros), the ex-Montpellier striker has struggled to score goals since his arrival in Pas-de-Calais. Against Clermont, however, he was in all the good moves of his team for a long time, for example opening the mark with a subtle lobbed header on a cross from Ruben Aguilar (11e minute).
In the process, he distinguished himself by a breakthrough on the left side (30e), then by a header pushed back on his line by Mory Diaw (36e). So much for Elye Wahi’s part of the match, which Franck Haise undoubtedly greatly appreciated. Subsequently, the 20-year-old striker suddenly showed off his inexperience.
Elye Wahi excluded… and expected against Arsenal
After having already conceded a first yellow card for protest (45e + 2), he received a second synonym of exclusion two minutes later, for having been at the origin of a scuffle. He was not the only one to rush to the locker room: in fact, Clermont defender Alidu Seidu was also asked to leave by the referee, Benoît Millot. Very annoyed on the sidelines, Auvergne coach Pascal Gastien also received a red card.
Returned to the stands, the coach watched in disappointment as his goalkeeper’s completely missed pass, offering a ready-made goal to Adrien Thomasson, who probably wasn’t asking for that much (49e). Played in a more relative calm, the end of the match allowed the Lensois to add to the score, thanks to the right foot of Wesley Saïd (82e), and continue a new defensive recital. Lens has not conceded a single goal in Ligue 1 since October 8, the day of the derby against Lille (1-1).
The club’s invincibility in the championship began even before this date, since the Sang et Or have not fallen since September 16, when they were defeated by Metz (1-0). A good omen, because a prestigious trip to Arsenal awaits them on Wednesday November 29. Third in their group with five points – four less than the Londoners, and as many as the Dutch PSV Eindhoven – the Lensois will undoubtedly be obliged to bring back points from their English escapade if they want to continue to dream of the first qualification in the round of 16 in their history.
Confident thanks to their results in France, the Lensois will be able to motivate themselves even more by remembering the first leg, during which they created the feat by bringing down the Gunners in an incandescent Bollaert stadium (2-1) . This success was, among other things, marked by a goal from Elye Wahi. Hoping for the Artesians that the young French striker will maintain his success from Saturday, adding a good dose of calm…