Lens will host Freiburg in another Round of 16 tie of the Europa League. After more than ten years away from the European scene, the hosts exited the Champions League. Freiburg advanced out of their Europa League group for the second consecutive year.
Preview (Lens vs. Freiburg)
Despite only finishing third and missing out on the Europa League, Lens made it a memorable group stage for the supporters in their first season back in Europe since 2007–08. Despite Arsenal’s crushing of Frank Haise’s team at the Emirates, the Bollaert-Delelis witnessed joyous scenes after their victories over the Gunners and Sevilla, who both went undefeated at home during the group stage. Lens is also in fantastic form as European competition resumes; they have won three straight to climb into the top six.
They started the season with just one point from their first five games and were in the bottom three Nice is now only four points behind Nice in second place. They have a legitimate chance to compete in the Champions League once more. Lens would therefore be able to claim to be European regulars once more, having been during the 1990s and 2000s. Some unforgettable moments from the UEFA Cup tournament in its previous incarnation also occurred there, like as their 2000 run to the semi-finals, where Arsenal ultimately eliminated them. Freiburg is preventing them from making a deep run in the continent. They are beginning to adjust to playing regular European games under Christian Streich.
Freiburg is currently displaying more pedigree in the Europa League after poor results saw them eliminated by Slovenian minnows Domzale in the qualification round in 2017–18 and by Slovan Liberec in the group stage in 2013–14. They have advanced past the group stage for the second straight season. Due to that, Freiburg was unable to go past the preliminary round. Freiburg needs to break their 23-year streak of consecutive continental knockout victories. St. Gallen of Switzerland was the last team they defeated in a two-leg match.
Team News
In the last week, Lens was able to welcome back Morgan Guilavogui and Salis Abdul Samed from their international assignments; both players may make their first starts since joining the team. Despite their recent returns, Nampalys Mendy and Abdulkodir Khusanov are expected to stay on the sidelines. Deliver Machado and Jimmy Cabot are still sidelined due to injuries. The hosts will be without Facundo Medina because he is serving a one-match ban for three yellow cards. Midway through the first half of Freiburg’s Friday loss to Borussia Dortmund, Manuel Gulde was sent off.
However, it may present an opportunity for new addition Attila Szalai to make his debut. Captain Christian Gunter, has missed nearly the entire season due to injury. With his domestic suspension not extending into European events, Merlin Rohl will be available. Risu Doan may make his Asian Cup debut after returning from duties in Japan. However, the visitors now have a long list of injured players, including Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Philipp Lienhart, and Matthias Ginter.
Lens 2-1 Freiburg
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