Pierre Sage keeps same Lens XI for Metz despite quick turnaround

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·8 March 2026

Pierre Sage keeps same Lens XI for Metz despite quick turnaround

RC Lens face two matches in under 72 hours, yet coach Pierre Sage has kept the same starting XI for the home game against Metz on Sunday at 15:00.

According to L'Équipe, he has resisted rotation despite an injury list of seven players: Ruben Aguilar, Kyllian Antonio, Samson Baidoo, Jonathan Gradit, Régis Gurtner, Wesley Saïd, Allan Saint-Maximin.

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Lens reached the Coupe de France semi-finals on Thursday night at OL with a 2-2 draw and a 5-4 win on penalties. The Metz fixture starts only 64 hours after the end of that shootout, yet Sage has named the same line-up used in the Rhône.

RC Lens starting XI: Risser - Celik, Ganiou, M.Sarr - Abdulhamid, Sangaré, Thomasson (cap.), Udol - Thauvin, Édouard, Sima.

Thomasson is listed as captain.

Source: L'Équipe