Lens vs Como - prediction, team news, lineups

Languishing extracurricular the Champions League's apical 24, Lens volition purpose to determination level with Como erstwhile they conscionable astatine Stade Bollaert-Delelis connected Wednesday night.

Following their historical decision of Manchester United, the Italian debutants person enactment six points connected the board, portion their hosts lone person 3 and prevarication beneath the playoff zone.

Match preview

Since Lens started their 4th Champions League run with a thrilling 3-2 comeback triumph implicit Slavia Prague, the French nine person travel distant empty-handed from their consequent fixtures.

Les Sang et Or were archetypal beaten 2-0 astatine location by Sporting Lisbon, past suffered different decision connected their travels, going down 3-0 to Club Brugge.

Remarkably, 16 games and immoderate 28 years person present passed since they past kept a cleanable expanse successful the Champions League.

Lens returned to Europe's apical array by finishing 2nd successful Ligue 1 past word but, aft a dilatory start, caller brag Dino Toppmoller swiftly made mode for Yannick Cahuzac. 

Though Toppmoller's erstwhile adjunct started positively with 3 consecutive league wins, his broadside were beaten by their bitter section rivals past clip out.

With a precocious Olivier Giroud goal, Lille snatched triumph successful the 125th Derby du Nord connected Friday night, leaving Lens ninth successful the French apical flight.

Now, Cahuzac's broadside indispensable effort to respond with maximum points, arsenic they surely request astatine slightest 2 much wins from 5 remaining Champions League matches.

Como took 1 measurement person to the knockout signifier past month, thumping Manchester United 4-1 connected a memorable nighttime astatine Stadio Sinigaglia, wherever main antheral Nico Paz bagged a brace.

Regardless of United's dire state, that marked an unthinkable accomplishment for a nine promoted backmost to Italy's apical tier lone 2 years earlier - and they were down successful Serie D arsenic precocious arsenic 2019.

Expertly led by Cesc Fabregas, 10 goals from their archetypal 3 games is the champion haul of immoderate debutant successful UEFA's elite contention since 1973 - and each 1 has been scored from unfastened play. 

Paz and apical scorer Tasos Douvikas already person 5 Champions League strikes betwixt them, and the brace person been adjacent much productive successful Serie A, with 11 extremity involvements combined.

Since losing 3-2 to Feyenoord connected matchday two, Como person embarked connected a streak of 5 consecutive wins crossed each competitions, scoring 13 goals and conceding conscionable three.

New France headdress Lucas Da Cunha was decisive from the spot successful Sunday's 1-0 triumph against rock-bottom Venezia, taking the Lariani up to a club-record tally of 23 points from their opening 10 games.

Now occupying 4th spot - wherever they finished past word - Como are intimately successful interaction with Italy's existent apical three, and fewer would regularisation them retired of the Scudetto race.

Lens Champions League form:

Lens signifier (all competitions):

Como Champions League form:

Como signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Lens volition beryllium missing respective men connected Wednesday, with antiaircraft duo Ismaelo Ganiou and Maik Nawrocki joining forwards Abdalllah Sima and Odsonne Edouard connected the sidelines.

The second has undergone country for an adductor wounded and could beryllium ruled retired until 2027, truthful Franjo Ivanovic is expected to pb the location side's attack.

Still struggling with a hamstring problem, Ecuadorian wing-back Jhoanner Chavez is besides a doubt.

While seasoned playmaker Florian Thauvin has created the astir chances crossed the Champions League's opening 3 matchdays (15), Como prima Paz has been straight progressive successful 5 goals. 

Douvikas has scored successful each 3 of the Lariani's league-phase appearances, truthful they are some integral parts of the Fabregas plan.

The Catalan manager volition inactive beryllium without Moise Kean, Trevoh Chalobah, Jesus Rodriguez and Assane Diao owed to injury, portion Jayden Addai is simply a large doubt.

Sometimes rotated with Chelsea loanee Robert Sanchez, goalkeeper Jean Butez precocious replaced Robin Risser of Lens successful the France squad.

Lens imaginable starting lineup:

Risser; Aguilar, Baidoo, Todibo; Abdulhamid, Cuisance, Haidara, Udol; Thauvin, Sotoca; Ivanovic

Como imaginable starting lineup:

Butez; Smolcic, Kempf, Ramon, Valle; Perrone, Ricci; Da Cunha, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas

We say: Lens 1-2 Como 

Although the illustration size is small, Como thin to commencement sharply successful Europe, having scored archetypal - and during the archetypal fractional - successful each 3 of their Champions League matches.

The Lariani besides person a potency that Lens simply cannot withstand, truthful they volition determination up to 9 points and permission their hosts stranded connected three.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.