Prior to their Champions League opener against Sevilla, Lens were in the wilderness. Franck Haise’s side had failed to win any of their first five Ligue 1 matches and had already lost on four occasions, the same amount as they lost in the entire 2022/23 season, where they finished just one point behind eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. A repeat of that feat certainly didn’t look on the cards with Les Sang et Or trapped in the relegation zone. 

Lens notably looked to be suffering from the absence of the talismanic figure of Seko Fofana, a crucial element of the side’s midfield, but also the dressing room, whilst their top scorer, Loïs Openda, also made a move away from the Stade Bollaert. “I don’t think we’ve completely turned the page on last season,” said Haise in the run-up to the match against AS Monaco. “We’ve stayed with what went well in 2022/23 and things catch up with you. We need to turn the page. There is a lot of work to do that hasn’t been completely done.”

Spierings a symbol of Lens’ demise

Haise struck an even more worrying tone after the club’s defeat to Monaco. “We have to be worried. I can’t say that I’m not worried, that wouldn’t be lucid,” said the Frenchman. Things would get worse before they got better, with a shock defeat at home to newly-promoted FC Metz preceding Lens’ first trip of the Champions League campaign. 

Lens’ demise on the pitch can at least partially be attributed to what went on off of it. Grégory Thil, in his one and perhaps only transfer window as Lens technical director, saw his role diminish as the deadline approached. The perceived failure of Thil’s business saw Arnaud Pouille increasingly involved himself in the recruitment, bringing in profiles such as Nampalys Mendy, Faitout Maouassa and Ruben Aguilar. Pouille’s involvement suggested that Thil’s time as technical director was coming to an end. 

The worst piece of business was undoubtedly Stijn Spierings. The Dutch midfielder had thrived at Toulouse FC the previous season before arriving at the Stade Bollaert on a free transfer. However, it wasn’t a good fight. Spierings was “poorly cast” for Lens’ style of play, and by mid-September, he had returned to Le TéFéCé on a joker transfer. 

Understandably, there was little optimism as Lens headed into their Champions League opener against Sevilla.

I’m not going to arrive with a bucket of confidence. We’re going to continue to believe in ourselves. I believe in my players and my team. The season will perhaps be difficult until the end. We came up short this evening, but I am confident […] I didn’t think we would be here, with just one point from 15. I knew it would certainly be a more difficult season. But this is where we are and we have to face it,” said Haise just days before Lens’ trip to Spain. 

However, he struck a more positive tone the day before the match against Sevilla. The mood seemed to have lightened, the Champions League a very welcome distraction. “Three years ago, this club was in Ligue 2. So yes, we’ve had bad results since the start of the season and we are working to improve things, but we would be stupid if we weren’t able to enjoy this moment. I don’t want to be stupid,” said Haise. 

Fulgini fires Lens back to form 

Lens looked to have carried their domestic form into the European competition. Luis Ocampos opened the scoring for Sevilla early on, but Les Sang et Or struck back with a sumptuous strike from Angelo Fulgini. Lens held on to take a point on their grand return to the upper echelon of the European game. “It’s important in the period that we are in to show character, that RC Lens are still here […] it will also, if it is necessary, also give the group a lot of confidence,” said Haise. 

The following weekend Lens got their first Ligue 1 victory, against Toulouse, and then backed that up with a slender win over RC Strasbourg Alsace. Then came the exploit, the one that few expected, the victory over Arsenal, which Haise described as “one of the most memorable matches” of his reign as Lens manager. 

Lens have not lost since and their most recent 4-0 victory over FC Nantes lifted them to 10th, level on points with Olympique de Marseille. Les Sang et Or are once again looking up the Ligue 1 table, and qualification from their Champions League group looks entirely feasible. If Metz was the nadir of Lens’ season, the match against Sevilla just days later was the clearly identifiable turning point. 

So many French clubs strive all season to attain European competition, but once there, it is a sort of poison chalice. There is almost a relief when they are knocked out and a perception that they are better without it, that they can devote all of their time and attention to domestic competition. Lens are proof that European performance can help, not hinder, domestic form.  

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Henry knows Zaïre-Emery well. The France U21 manager made the PSG midfielder captain of Les Bleuets earlier this season, despite being just 17 years old. Zaïre-Emery captained France to a comfortable 4-1 victory over Denmark in his first game with the armband with Henry stating that he gave the midfielder the responsibility to see “what he was made of.” 

Henry was also full of praise for the midfielder after his performance against AC Milan. Zaïre-Emery assisted Kylian Mbappé’s opener before teeing up Kang-in Lee late in the second half to wrap up the three points. The Frenchman was awarded man-of-the-match, and Henry strongly believes that the midfielder has a bright future.

“The way Warren Zaïre-Emery is playing, it is normal to run the show at just 17 years old. He was the only one that held his ground at St James’ Park. He’s been magnificent […] The sky is the limit. I have never seen a player that young being so mature. Usually, you have youngsters that play as forwards that make the difference. But when you play in midfield for a team like PSG, you need to readjust. It is rare to see such a young player in that position,” said Henry on CBS Sports Golazo.

He added, “I gave him the armband because I wanted to see the next thing. I know that physically, he is strong, he can run, he can see a pass, he can stop a counter. I want to know if he can also stop a player by talking. I gave him the armband to know if he could direct the team and talk. That was my way of seeing if he could do that, and trust me, he can. This guy has no limits.”

Speaking earlier this month, Didier Deschamps said that he was tracking the “interesting” Zaïre-Emery, adding that if he maintained his level of performance, he would become a “serious contender” for a spot in France’s midfield. Against AC Milan, the PSG academy product certainly stated his case.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

A belaboured start from the hosts afforded the Rossoneri with time and space to settle into the game at their own pace –  midfielder Rade Krunić in particular standing out. A litany of errors when building out from the back handed several opportunities to Stefano Pioli’s men, with Rafael Leão seeing a shot whistle wide of the post after twenty-five minutes.

A misfiring start would be of little consequence, though. On the hour mark, the teenage Warre Zaïre-Emery decided to take matters into his own hands and stormed through the midfield – shrugging off two Milan players in the process – before playing Mbappé through. The France captain, facing Rade Krunić, would keep his marker at bay and find the net with a low, near post finish – a classic Mbappé strike.

Luis Enrique’s men would strike again right after the break, as Ousmane Dembélé sweeped home after a lightning-quick break – only for the goal to be ruled out for a shove by Ugarte in the build-up. A second goal would indeed come minutes later – the former Barcelona winger once again involved, as his low shot was parried by Mike Maignan straight into the path of Randal Kolo Muani for a simple, close-range finish.

There was no way back for the Italians – the only attacking threat would come from Rafael Leão meandering solo runs, and some wayward crosses – none of which would ever reach Olivier Giroud. PSG would eventually wrap up the win with a goal from substitute Kang-in Lee, with Zaïre-Emery once again providing the assist.

While the collapse in Newcastle is not yet a distant blip, tonight’s display does offer some much-needed reassurance, with PSG returning to the top of Group F. Luis Enrique’s honeymoon period may not be over just yet.

PSG player ratings:

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 7 – Coming up against his formative club, the Italian initially looked to be struggling when put under pressure when PSG built out from the back. He was not forced into a mistake, though, and was authoritative in keeping the Rossoneri out in the second half.

Achraf Hakimi, 7

Marquinhos, 6 – Faced a tough battle up against Leão and mostly came out on top. His technical ease was important in releasing pressure during build-up play, in the midst of a shaky first 20 minutes for the hosts.

Milan Škriniar, 6

Lucas Hernández, 6

Warren Zaïre-Emery, 7 – It’s scarcely believable that the midfielder doesn’t turn 18 until next March, given the consistently assured performances he turns in both on domestic and continental stages. He was once again instrumental in breaking down an unflinching Milan defence with his incisive runs – his assist for Kylian Mbappé’s opener, which saw him fend off two defenders before threading the pass through, was the highlight of an impressive performance. Added another assist – to make it three for the European campaign – for Kang-in Lee’s goal at the end of the game.

Manuel Ugarte, 5 – PSG’s player of the season so far was slightly below his usually high standards, but remained a dependable presence in breaking up prospective Milan moves. Let down by some wayward passing and a barge on Musah which saw Dembélé’s goal ruled out after half time. Replaced by Fabián Ruiz.

Vitinha, 6

Ousmane Dembélé, 6

Randal Kolo Muani, 6 – The Frenchman justifying his selection ahead of Gonçalo Ramos – some darting runs forward and precise link-up play providing an important outlet for the hosts. Scored the second goal of the game with a close-range finish. Replaced by Ramos for the final ten minutes.

Kylian Mbappé, 7 – Continued his return to form with a trademark sweeping finish inside the near post, and generally combined well with his attacking partners while confirming a return to his incisive best. Came close to a brace several times, notably hitting the post at the end of the game.

Milan player ratings:

Théo Hernandez, 4 – The French international was beaten several times by a resurgent Dembélé, but was mostly able to hold his ground and swung in several crosses from the left – none of which could meet Olivier Giroud’s head.

Rafael Leão, 5 – The former Lille man was incisive in the opening exchanges of the game and managed to get a couple of shots away. His influence on the game understandably diminished as a more assured PSG display in the second half deprived Milan of further opportunities to counter.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Al-Khelaifi is often present at the Parc des Princes to watch PSG’s matches. He is often also present at PSG training the day before a European encounter, however, he was not at the club’s training centre in Poissy on Tuesday. Al-Khelaifi’s absence has now been explained. L’Équipe are reporting that PSG’s president has undergone emergency knee surgery. Nonetheless, he was keen to be in attendance at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night and was willing to go to the match on crutches. However, he will instead remain in hospital for the rest of the week. Al-Khelaifi will also be absent from the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris next Monday.  

Whilst Al-Khelaifi won’t be at the match against AC Milan, he did nonetheless speak with Luis Campos and Luis Enrique on the phone ahead of the tie. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Youngster Warren Zaïre-Emery is set to return to Luis Enrique’s squad this evening, who is set to make up to six changes this evening from the side that starting in the 3-0 win in Ligue 1 over Strasbourg at the weekend, with Ousmane Dembélé and Manuel Ugarte returning to the side for the clash against the Rossoneri.

Milan are yet to find the back of the net in their two Champions League matches, but have equally not conceded thus far in the Group Stage. Three points for the Serie A side are vital if they want to qualify out of what many have called the ‘Group of Death’. 

How to watch PSG vs AC Milan in the Champions League

Date and Kick-off : 25th October 2023, 21h00 (CET) 

Stadium: Parc des Princes

Where to watch:  TNT Sports 4 / Discovery+ (UK), Paramount+ (US), Canal+ (France), RMC Sport 1 (France), DAZN (Canada)

For anglophone audiences, PSG vs AC Milan will be broadcasted on TNT Sports (formerly BT) in the UK, whilst US coverage will be provided by Paramount+ (including the star-studded line-up of Kate Abdo, France legend Thierry Henry, Micah Richards, and Jamie Carragher). Those tuning in locally from France will have the option of Canal+ (co-commentated by former Newcastle defender and current Red Star FC manager Habib Beye), and RMC Sport 1.

GFFN | George Boxall

PSG were scarcely tested over the weekend as they strolled to a 3-0 win over Strasbourg, while the Rossoneri fell to a 1-0 loss against Juventus and were knocked off top spot in Serie A. 

In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Luis Enrique stressed the importance of maintaining the team’s attack-oriented approach to counter the Rossoneri‘s defensive flexibility.

“[We’ll be] attacking, as we always do. We’re a team that’s always sought to attack and have possession. That’s the most important thing for us, and it won’t change. We’ll have to attack more than the opponent, but also defend by pressing them. But what I’ve seen and what I’m feeling makes me optimistic.”

“They usually play in a 4-3-3 formation, and they’re very good all over the pitch. But they can also play with a five-man backline. It’s an option that we’ve taken into account and that we’re ready for.”

The Spaniard was also evasive when asked to pick between his two main centre-forward options, namely summer signings Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos – it was the Portuguese forward who started on Saturday. He instead highlighted the importance of having competition across the squad, and pointed out that he had several other options at his disposal up front, including Marco Asensio and Bradley Barcola.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Both Champions League matches held at the Stade Bollaert this season have been classed as a level four risk (the highest level) by the management of the National Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH). Lens’ match against Arsenal was also ranked as a high-risk match. The fixture took place without incident. 

5% of the Stade Bollaert, equivalent to around 1800 fans, will be allocated to travelling Dutch supporters. Security measures will therefore be increased for Tuesday night’s match in Lens. A fan zone will also be created in Cantin to accommodate fans with between 200-400 fans expected to make the trip to Northern France without tickets. According to L’Équipe, there will be even more police units (five compared to three) than the match against Arsenal. Around 1100 officers are therefore expected to be involved in the operation. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Eddie Howe’s Toons made the most of PSG’s defensive mistakes with Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schär all finding the back of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net. PSG left-back Lucas Hernandez scored a consolation goal for the visitors.

Luis Enrique said at the time that the scoreline flattered Newcastle. “We didn’t deserve that result,” said the Spaniard, who succeeded Christophe Galtier as PSG manager in the summer. It was a resolute Luis Enrique who spoke to the media on Saturday, ahead of PSG’s clash against Stade Rennais on Sunday evening. 

He maintained his stance that the 4-1 defeat was not deserved and added that he liked his team’s personality. “We have looked back on the errors and the situations we can improve. Wednesday’s result doesn’t at all reflect the scenario of the match. Obviously, we made errors that cost us goals, but the scoreline is harsh,” began Luis Enrique, in an interview transcribed by Le Parisien. 

“In my career, I’ve lost a few times by a big margin, but when it happened, it was because the opponent was stronger. It wasn’t the case there. I am not here to say what people want to hear. I liked my team’s personality and attitude. Yes, Newcastle deserved to win, yes, there is margin for improvement, but the result doesn’t correspond with what we saw on the pitch,” he added. 

After a difficult week, which includes a draw against Clermont Foot, and a heavy Champions League defeat against Newcastle, PSG will look to finish it on a high at Roazhon Park on Sunday night. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The 4-1 defeat at St James’ Park was the heaviest in a Champions League match since the start of the QSI era, which began back in 2012. The last time that PSG conceded four in a Champions League group stage match was on 7th March against Deportivo de la Coruña (4).

The defeat also worsens French team’s already poor record against English sides. In 16 meetings with Premier League sides in the Champions League, Ligue 1 sides have lost 13 times. RC Lens’ victory over Arsenal the night before somewhat bucked the recent trend. 

Luis Enrique also set an unwanted record of his own. With just four wins in his first nine matches as manager of Les Parisiens, he has the worst record of any PSG manager in their first nine matches since Antoine Kombouaré, who also managed four victories back in 2009. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Franck Haise’s men stepped up to the occasion by clinching a historic win over the Premier League runners-up, which has sent them top of Group B.

The Gunners’ return to the Stade Bollaert – 25 years after the two teams first met in the Champions League – was inevitably attended by some of Lens’ major figures from European campaigns past (Daniel Moreira, Eric Sikori, Guillaume Warmuz – the latter formerly of Arsenal as well). The fixture also attracted key players from the wider world of French football (Reims manager Will Still, for example) and beyond.

L’Équipe notably spoke to former French president François Hollande, on his way out from the VIP box. The ex-head of state was particularly impressed with the performance of new signing Elye Wahi, who was involved in both of the Sang et Or goals: “He was expensive to sign but he gave a lot, he really impressed!”

After a patently poor start to the campaign, Lens rediscovered the collective spark that saw them push PSG all the way last season – just in time to produce one of the club’s most famous results. While Haise has described the game as “one of the most memorable” of his reign so far, he and his team will not rest on their laurels – particularly as a derby clash against Lille awaits this weekend.