Lens hasn’t played in the Champions League for over 20 years, and there were concerns in the predictions that the team in this group would be able to compete for a spot in the playoffs. However, after two rounds, Frank Hesse’s team leads the group with four points. They started with an away draw against Sevilla (1-1). Next, they sensationally defeated Arsenal 2-1 at home. It’s still too early to say that the “Blood and Gold” will advance from the group, considering the tight competition. Much will depend on the results of the two-match confrontation with PSV. In the French league, Lens is not making an impressive impact – they are in 15th place after nine rounds with only nine points. However, they have managed to stabilize their results in the last few games with two wins and two draws. Right before the Champions League game, the “Blood and Gold” failed to break Havre’s defense (0-0) in an away game.
PSV is at the bottom of the table in Group B after two rounds. They’ve only collected one point, but the situation is not as bad as it may seem since they are just three points behind Lens, who is in first place. They can close the gap with a victory today. In the opening match of the Champions League, Peter Bosz’s team suffered a 0-4 defeat to Arsenal in London. In the second round, they managed to draw with Sevilla 2-2 at home, equalizing the score in added time. It’s noticeable that PSV’s defense has been letting them down regularly. In the Eredivisie, “The Farmers” are flawless, having won all nine games. However, they are only two points ahead of AZ. In their last match, PSV outclassed Fortuna 3-1 at home. It’s worth noting that in the 13 previous matches involving “The Red and Whites” in all competitions, more than two goals have been consistently scored.