PSG/Lens – Lens preview: a new era, but still attacking | OneFootball

This Sunday, September 14, Paris Saint-Germain (1st) faces Lens (5th) at the Parc des Princes (kick-off at 5:15 PM, broadcast on beIN SPORTS) during the 4th day of Ligue 1 2025-2026. And as before every match, here is the presentation of the Parisians' opponent.

The situation of Lens –

After a moment of excitement, Lens is experiencing a somewhat less joyful phase. There is not even Europe to play for this season, after finishing 8th in Ligue 1 for the 2024-2025 season. It must be said that there was a change during the summer of 2024: coach Franck Haise left for a new challenge in Nice while Will Still signed from Reims.

The Lens team continues with another change as the Belgian coach has left for Southampton and the English second division. It is Pierre Sage, known from Lyon, who has taken over, hoping to bring beautiful play, stability, and Europe. Following a very lively transfer window, the start of the season is interesting, with 6 points in 3 matches.

The summer transfer window 2025 –

Source: Transfermarkt.

Departures:

Arrivals:

Main statistics –

This season, Lens is among the 5th best attacks in Ligue 1 with 5 goals scored (Lille is first with 11, and Nantes is last with 1), and is among the 3rd best defenses with 3 goals conceded (Lyon has the best defense with 0 goals conceded, the last – Paris FC, Lorient, and Brest – are at 8).

The top scorer for Lens is Morgan Guilavogui (27-year-old forward), with 1 goal he is 34th in the championship (the top scorer in Ligue 1 is João Neves with 3 goals). Saud Abdulhamid (26-year-old right-back) is the top assist provider for the Lens team, with 1 assist and he is 9th in Ligue 1 (Felix Correia is first with 2 assists).

The last 5 matches of Lens –

Only Lens' possession is indicated and Lens' shots are listed first (when data is available).

02/08/2025 (friendly) – Lens/AS Roma: 0-2. In 3-5-2. 57% possession. 11 shots with 1 on target against 8 shots (3 on target)

09/08/2025 (friendly) – Lens/RB Leipzig: 2-1. In 3-4-2-1.

16/08/2025 (Ligue 1) – Lens/OL: 0-1. In 3-4-2-1. 56% possession. 18 shots with 5 on target against 11 shots (3 on target).

24/08/2025 (Ligue 1) – Le Havre/Lens: 1-2. In 3-4-2-1. 56% possession. 6 shots with 3 on target against 18 shots (6 on target).

29/08/2025 (Ligue 1) – Lens/Brest: 3-1. In 3-4-2-1. 68% possession. 30 shots with 10 on target against 9 shots (2 on target).

The Lens squad:

Absent – Chavez, Machado (injury).

The probable team in 3-4-2-1.

Edouard

Saïd – Thauvin

Udol – Thomasson – Sangaré – Aguilar

Sarr – Baidoo – Gradit

Risser

The playing style of Lens.

It's a bit of a "tradition" that has been established over several years: Lens has a very offensive playing style and often plays with a back three. The idea is to press, if possible to strike quickly, but otherwise to maintain control and exhaust the opponent. A style full of energy that is difficult to counter, but which can also sometimes leave some gaps and thus provide opportunities.

PSG is warned, they will need to be immediately in rhythm after the break and not have their minds too much on what's next (start of the Champions League on Wednesday against Atalanta and a trip to Marseille on Sunday). The Lens team will probably try to destabilize them, at least at the beginning of the match. A defensive adaptation, possibly as the Parisian possession unfolds, is to be considered. In this case, beware of counters that can go very fast.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.