· 2 min readIn this Lens vs Sporting match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Sporting travelled to France after a good win against Galatasaray in the opening round of the Champions League, but Lens were not a team to take lightly. The French side had also won their opener and, with a new manager in charge, wanted to make the most of home advantage. Rui Borges continues to face criticism, and with good reason, but the truth is that Sporting keep winning. And today, they once again showed that even when they don’t control the game, they know how to take their chances.
Lens made a much better start. In the tenth minute, Ivanovic had a golden opportunity, practically a tap-in, but got his timing wrong. Sporting couldn’t keep possession, let alone establish themselves in the attacking half, and Kaique Pereira wasn’t exactly reassuring either.
In the fifth minute, he spilled a fairly straightforward Thauvin shot in front of him. In a game of this importance, it raises the question: why is he starting ahead of Rui Silva?
But football isn’t won by dominating the game. In the 22nd minute, Irankunda crossed from the left and Luis Suárez got ahead of his marker to shoot from inside the six-yard box. Risser got a touch on the ball but couldn’t keep it out. You could argue the goalkeeper should have done better, as the shot went almost straight at him, but Suárez was very close. And 18-year-old centre-back Kyllian Antonio also can’t allow the Colombian to get into that position with such an advantage inside the six-yard box. Sporting scored with their first major attacking opportunity.
The goal didn’t change the picture. Lens continued to push forward, with Thauvin standing out, and Ivanovic threatened again, this time with a shot that went narrowly wide of the post. In the 36th minute, a lovely individual run from the forward set Haidara up to shoot, but Pereira saved without too much trouble.
At half-time, the French side had 12 shots to Sporting’s five and 1.23 expected goals compared to 0.56. Lens were creating more, but Sporting had also managed to threaten. It was a much more interesting first half than the scoreline suggested.
In the second half, Sporting managed to make life more difficult for their opponents, even without completely taking control away from Lens. Pereira made up for his shaky start with a brilliant save from a Haidara shot in the 59th minute.
Shortly afterwards, João Simões also found space to shoot, while Édouard wasted a good chance at the other end by taking too long inside the box. Lens were creating plenty, but their finishing was starting to let them down.
And that was precisely when Sporting struck again. In the 75th minute, Derry beat his opponent and found Silas Andersen, who played the ball between the centre-backs for Doumbia. The Lens defence was sitting far too high, leaving a huge amount of space in behind, and the forward took full advantage, breaking through on goal and firing a low shot into the net to make it 2-0. When you’re desperately chasing an equaliser, this is the risk you take: leaving space for an opponent who knows how to break on the counter.
Lens still tried to pull one back, but Sporting held on until the end. Suárez came off in the 85th minute after scoring a historic goal, becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Champions League. Lens had more shots and showed more attacking intent, but failed to take their chances.
Post-match
Sporting took their chances, defended when they needed to and left France with a 2-0 win. You don’t always need to dominate to win. You need to know what to do when the opportunities come.
