Sevilla controlled the game before the break but struggled to create a fluent attacking move after the restart. They will be hoping that they can extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to three matches when they face Osasuna in LaLiga. Their next Champions League fixture is away to PSV at the start of October. As for Lens, they will attempt to secure their first victory of the campaign when they host Toulouse. Les Sang et Or are at home to Group B leaders Arsenal in their next European fixture.
Fulgini's excellent free-kick helped Lens earn a deserved draw against Sevilla. Ocampos netted the opener inside 10 minutes, with the winger getting on the end of Rakitic's corner and flicking a looping header over Samba. However, Lens stayed in the game and levelled with a fantastic free-kick. Fulgini's effort flew into the top right-hand corner, beating Dmitrovic on his side. It was then the Samba show for the rest of the half. The Lens goalkeeper denied Ocampos and En-Nesyri with smart stops, keeping the score level at the break. The Ligue 1 outfit had the better opportunities to score after the break. Frankowski's cross found Guilavogui free in the middle, with his header pushed over by Dmitrovic. The goalkeeper then made another smart stop moments later, denying Sotoca. Ramos headed wide for Sevilla before Lens had the final chance. Medina got away from his marker to get onto a free-kick from Diouf, but he could not direct his attempt on target.
90' + 4' FULL-TIME: SEVILLA 1-1 LENS
90' + 2' Diouf curls a free-kick into the middle of a packed Sevilla box and finds Medina, who heads the ball just wide. The chance is gone but Dmitrovic is furious, as he was allowed a free effort at the goal.
M. Haïdara
Yellow Card
90' Haidara is shown a yellow card for time wasting. He had the ball in his hands and was unwilling to release it.
89' A Sevilla corner drops to the feet of Pedrosa just inside Lens' half, with the defender curling a cross towards Ramos on the right side of the box. He slides towards the byline to keep the attack alive and sends a pass into the feet of Diaz in the middle of the box. He shoots well wide before the flag goes up for offside against Ramos.
87' Thomasson drives forward down the right and looks to blast a pass into the feet of Guilavogui inside the box. However, the ball is just too far away from his outstretched foot, with Sevilla regaining possession.
M. Haïdara
D. Machado
85' Haidara is introduced for the final five minutes and replaces Machado.
84' WIDE! Ramos has a glorious chance to put Sevilla ahead. He runs away from his marker to get on the end of Lukebakio's corner but heads his effort wide. The centre-back then puts his head in his hands.
82' Diaz does not take long to make an impact on the game, moving into space to receive the ball inside the box. He has an option to his right but decides to go alone, with his powerful effort defecting behind off of a defender.
Jesús Navas
Juanlu Sánchez
80' Navas makes his way onto the pitch and replaces Sanchez at right-back.
M. Díaz
Y. En-Nesyri
80' En-Nesyri was a presence in the attack before the break but has been ineffective since the restart. Díaz takes his place in the attack.
78' Dmitrovic makes another smart stop, this time pushing away a header from Sotoca. Lens have all the momentum and look like they are the team that is more likely to score a winner.
78' SAVE! That is a phenomenal stop from Dmitrovic. Frankowski bursts down the right and whips a cross onto the head of Guilavogui, who escapes his marker and is free inside the box. He powers his header towards the goal, with Dmitrovic reacting quickly to push it over.
A. Thomasson
A. Fulgini
76' Fulgini scored Lens' goal and is now coming off after a good performance across the attack. Thomasson is given the rest of the match to make an impression.
75' Fulgini plays a fast one-two with Guilavogui before flashing a cross into the box. However, nobody is there to receive it and Ramos gets it away.
Suso
I. Rakitić
74' Rakitic is on his way off and is replaced by Suso.
L. Ocampos
Yellow Card
73' Ocampos is into the book after a heavy tackle on Danso.
72' Guilavogui is straight into the action and beats the offside trap to receive the ball on the right. He then curls a cross into an inviting area, but it beats Fulgini in the middle.
A. Diouf
N. Mendy
71' Mendy has been steady in the midfield and has put in a couple of strong tackles. Diouf takes his place.
M. Guilavogui
E. Wahi
71' Wahi has been electric in the attack for Lens but is now being given a rest. Guilavogui is now on.
Sergio Ramos
Yellow Card
70' Ramos is shown a yellow card after committing a foul.
68' Sanchez plays a pass into the feet of Lukebakio, who turns towards the goal before drilling a low effort on target. His strike takes a deflection, forcing Samba to scramble across his line and push the ball wide.
67' CHANCE! Ocampos' cross from the right is flicked into the path of Lukebakio by Danso. The ball bounces ahead of him inside the box, with the substitute shooting over.
66' Rakitic got an assist earlier in the game and looks to do the same with a free-kick from the right. The former Barcelona man finds Ocampos inside the box, who directs his header wide of the target.
65' Fulgini and Machado are over a free-kick in a crossing position. The latter takes it, but he puts too much height on it, allowing Dmitrovic to rush off his line and punch the ball away.
D. Lukebakio
E. Lamela
63' Lamela is also off after a quiet performance on the right side of the attack. Lukebakio takes his place.
B. Soumaré
D. Sow
63' Sevilla make their first change of the game. It is a straight swap in the midfield, with Soumare replacing Sow.
61' Rakitic blasts a low corner into the box. His cross is goal-bound, with Samed recognising the danger and directing the ball behind. He is then congratulated by his team-mates for his defensive efforts.
59' Danso gets on the end of the following corner but is unable to turn his effort towards the goal.
58' BLOCK! Wahi has been excellent in this game. This time he drifts inside with the ball just outside Sevilla's box and looks to unleash a shot after space opens ahead of him. However, Ramos is able to get across and block his effort with a slide.
57' Rakitic finds the run of En-Nesyri, who bursts down the left side of the box. The striker gets the ball out of his feet and looks to get past Danso, but the defender matches the run and forces him to recycle possession.
56' Ocampos is lucky to get away without a yellow card. He is late to the ball and stamps on Mendy's foot inside Sevilla's half, with the Lens midfielder briefly going down before returning to his feet.
54' Fernando slides a throughball to the edge of the box to Rakitic, who looks to play a quick one-two with En-Nesyri to make space for a shot. However, the attack breaks down and Lens have it back.
52' Fulgini turns on the ball inside Sevilla's half and ignores options to his left before having a shot blocked. It comes out to Sotoca, who takes a touch of his feet before shooting, with his effort deflecting behind off of Ramos.
50' Lamela uses his body to spin past a defender before sliding a pass into the feet of En-Nesyri, who looks back to recycle possession. The ball eventually finds Rakitic, who whips a cross into the box, but Danso is ready for it and heads it behind.
48' Rakitic looks to cause problems in Lens' box with a curling free-kick into the box. However, the referee stops the game almost immediately, with Ramos fouling Danso.
47' Wahi has the first chance of the half. Sotoca slips the ball down the right channel, with Wahi racing away from the Sevilla defence before blasting his shot against the side of the net.
46' Lens get the ball rolling again. No changes at the break.
Sevilla have created the better chances in the match and should be ahead. Ocampos netted the opener but has shown his skill on the left, driving forward with the ball and making darting runs into the box. En-Nesyri has also been a physical presence in the attack and has been tough to handle. As for Lens, they have done well in the fixture. They have countered effectively and have held a rigid shape. Wahi's tricky feet won the free-kick for the equaliser, with the forward showing his pace in the attack throughout the half. Fulgini has also been effective with his free-kicks and has produced a couple of dangerous crosses.
Fulgini's sublime free-kick cancelled out Ocampos' header to send Sevilla and Lens into the break level. The hosts broke the deadlock impressively, with Ocampos looping a header over Samba after getting on the end of Rakitic's inswinging corner. However, Lens levelled with a stunning goal. Fulgini wrapped his foot around the ball and curled a free-kick into the top corner. Dmitrovic got a hand on it but could not keep his powerful shot out. Samba then produced two stunning stops to keep the game level. The former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper claimed En-Nesyri's header before denying Ocampos from close range.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: SEVILLA 1-1 LENS
45' + 2' Mendy wins possession inside Sevilla's half and slides a throughball down the right side of the box towards Wahi. The striker is one-on-one with Gudelj and tries to get around the defender, but he is tackled.
45' Fulgini has shown his quality from free-kick situations in this match but delivers a poor cross on this occasion. His free-kick from the right goes over everyone in the middle of the box. Danso runs around the back to try and keep it on the pitch. However, he is unsuccessful.
43' Lamela escapes his marker on the right side of the pox and pokes a shot across the goal. Samba is equal to it and gets both gloves on the ball under pressure.
42' Ocampos gets to the byline on the left before cutting a pass back to the feet of Pedrosa. The Spaniard then loops a high cross into the box towards En-Nesyri. The striker gets onto the end of it but can only head it into the ground, with Mendy clearing it away.
41' SAVE! Rakitic has a free-kick on the left and sends a searching cross into the box with his right foot. En-Nesyri meets it and powers a header towards the goal, but Samba is in a good position and claims it.
39' Sevilla are being allowed to keep possession in their own half. Lens are keeping a rigid defensive structure and do not want to break it by pressing the hosts in advanced positions.
N. Gudelj
Yellow Card
37' Mendy beats Gudelj to the ball and pokes it away from the defender, who sticks his leg out and fouls the former Leicester City man. He is then shown a yellow card.
35' Dmitrovic sends a long pass down the middle of the pitch. Danso flicks a header towards his own goal that En-Nesyri chases, but Samba takes control. The goalkeeper rushes towards the edge of his box and claims it with confidence.
33' Samed looks to match the run of Pedrosa down the left and sticks his elbow out to foul the left-back, who was rushing forward with the ball. The Sevilla players crowd around the referee and want him to show the Lens defender a yellow card, but he ignores their claims.
31' SAVE! That is a phenomenal stop from Samba. Lamela has possession on the right and switches the ball onto his left foot before curling a cross into the box. Ocampos slides across to get his shot away and looks to have poked his effort into the bottom corner, but Samba gets his glove in the way before collecting it under pressure.
A. Fulgini
Yellow Card
30' Fulgini goes into the book after leading with his elbow going into a battle in the air with Sanchez.
30' Fulgini has another free-kick, with this one being inside a crossing position. He whips his cross from the right across the box, with the ball going over the head of Sotoca and out for a goal-kick.
28' Lens are showing their confidence and are playing a lot of passes with pace. Sotoca curls a throughball down the right channel for Fulgini to chase. He moves into the box before having his low cross turned behind for a corner.
26' Lens have gained some energy since scoring the equaliser and have been the better side since the restart. They have only lost one of their seven meetings with Spanish sides in all competitions (winning four and drawing twice), going down 3-1 at Deportivo de La Coruna in October 2002. This will be their first such game since a 3-1 win over Osasuna in the 2006-07 UEFA Cup.
A. Fulgini
Goal
24' GOALLLL! WHAT A STRIKE FROM FULGINI! 1-1! Fulgini and Machado are over a free-kick on the edge of the box, but is the latter who takes it. The winger runs towards the ball and curls his effort into the top-right corner. Dmitrovic gets his fingers on it, but he is beaten by the power of the shot.
23' Wahi has three players around him on the edge of the box, with Ramos ahead of him. He cuts onto his right and tries to get a shot away before being tripped by Fernando.
22' Rakitic takes a quick free-kick and drills a pass into the feet of En-Nesyri. He receives the ball on the edge of the box and looks to switch it onto his right foot, but it gets away from his control, allowing Lens to regain possession.
20' Wahi gets into a battle with Ramos and wins a corner on the right before getting pushed by the former Real Madrid centre-back. Fulgini then whips a cross into the box from the right, but it goes over everyone in the box.
B. Samba
Yellow Card
18' Samba is the third Lens player to be shown a yellow card after complaining to the referee. He is unhappy with a foul in front of him and points to his captain's armband, but it does not save him from going into the book.
F. Sotoca
Yellow Card
17' Sotoca goes into the book after a strong tackle on Pedrosa.
16' Wahi breaks forward on the counter and does brilliantly to chip the ball over Pedrosa and drive into Sevilla's half. However, he is stopped by Fernando, who gets back to clear it away for a throw-in.
F. Medina
Yellow Card
14' Medina is the first player to be shown a yellow card after a late tackle on Sanchez.
13' Lens have struggled to make an impact in the attack so far. They have produced a lot of loose passes around the halfway line and are finding it difficult to retain possession for extended periods.
11' Rakitic has a free-kick on the left and looks to get his second assist of the game. He floats his cross into a promising position, but it beats everyone and goes out for a goal-kick.
I. Rakitić
Assist
9' Rakitic put a lot of pace on his cross, meaning that Ocampos simply had to direct his effort towards the goal. However, the attempt from the Argentina International is still impressive, beating Samba from a tight angle.
L. Ocampos
Goal
9' GOALLL! OCAMPOS SCORES! 1-0 SEVILLA! What a header from the winger! Rakitic curls a dangerous inswinging cross towards Ocampos, who runs towards the ball to get there before Machado. He is facing away from the goal and flicks his header backwards, with it looping over Samba and into the net.
7' Lens are looking to keep possession in their own half with a lot of short passes inside their defensive third. Sevilla are aware of their intentions and are pressing them aggressively.
5' CHANCE! Ocampos makes the most of a loose pass out of Lens' defence and drives forward with the ball. He skips past Danso and looks to shoot just inside the box, but Gradit gets across to make a fantastic block.
3' Sevilla retains possession well around their defence, and Pedrosa receives the ball just inside his own half. The left-back tries to start a quick attack by sending a direct pass over the top of Lens' defence and towards Ocampos but kicks it out for a throw-in.
2' Wahi gets down the left side of the box and looks to chip a cross into the middle of the box. However, he gets it wrong and sends the ball out for a goal-kick.
1' Sevilla get this Champions League Group B clash under way.
This is the first competitive meeting between Sevilla and Lens. The hosts have won three of their five home games against French sides in all competitions (losing twice), though did lose their most recent encounter (1-2 v Lille in November 2021). Both teams are now on the pitch and are ready to get started.
Lens make three alterations to the team that lost to Metz in their last outing. Medina starts at centre-back instead of Khusanov, with Mendy replacing Thomasson at the heart of the midfield. Frankowski appears on the right, meaning that Aguilar misses out.
Sevilla make five changes to the side that beat Las Palmas in their previous match. Gudelj comes in at centre-back and Sanchez starts at right-back, meaning that Bade and Navas drop onto the bench. Rakitic moves into a more advanced position in the midfield and replaces Torres, with Fernando operating in the space that the Croatia international vacated. Lamela takes Suso’s place on the right side of the attack and En-Nesyri leads the line instead of Mir.
LENS SUBS: Jean-Louis Leca, Yannick Pandor, Ruben Aguilar, Andy Diouf, Faitout Maouassa, Massadio Haidara, Wesley Said, Neil El Aynaoui, Abduqodir Khusanov, Morgan Guilavogui, Adrien Thomasson.
LENS (3-4-2-1): Brice Samba; Kevin Danso, Jonathan Gradit, Facundo Medina; Przemyslaw Frankowski, Salis Abdul Samed, Nampalys Mendy, Deiver Machado; Florian Sotoca, Angelo Fulgini; Elye Wahi.
SEVILLA SUBS: Orjan Nyland, Federico Gattoni, Suso, Joan Jordán, Rafa Mir, Dodi Lukebakio, Mariano Diaz, Jesús Navas, Oliver Torres, Loic Bade, Boubakary Soumare, Kike Salas.
SEVILLA (4-2-3-1): Marko Dmitrovic; Juanlu Sanchez, Nemanja Gudelj, Sergio Ramos, Adria Pedrosa; Djibril Sow, Fernando; Erik Lamela, Ivan Rakitic, Lucas Ocampos; Youssef En-Nesyri.
Lens were one of the surprise packages in Ligue 1 last season and finished in second place, just one point behind winners Paris Saint-Germain. However, they have struggled since losing Lois Openda and Seko Fofana in the transfer window, with the pair playing an instrumental role in their success. Les Sang et Or are at the bottom of the table after losing four of their opening five matches, with their only point coming in a draw against Rennes. Lens will be hoping that their first venture in the Champions League in 20 years will be a welcome distraction from the domestic campaign and can be a chance to reignite their season.
Sevilla will be looking to secure their second consecutive win in all competitions after a difficult start to the new season. The seven-time Europa League winners, who lifted the title last term after a penalty-shootout win over Roma in the final, lost their first three LaLiga games and were beaten by Manchester City in the Super Cup. However, they secured their first competitive victory in two months in their last outing, triumphing over Las Palmas. Sergio Ramos made his debut and helped them keep a clean sheet in a narrow victory, with Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side now sitting one place above the relegation zone. They will be hoping to do better in the Champions League than they did in the previous two seasons, going out at the group stage on both occasions.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Champions League game between Sevilla and Lens.
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