RC Lens Vs Como 1907; Predicted line ups, team news and analysis

Ligue 1 outfit RC Lens host Champions League debutants Como in the fourth round group phase match in the first ever meeting between the two.

The hosts are hoping to get their first home win of this Champions League having been defeated by Sporting Lisbon 2-0 last month and in their last game they lost to Club Brugge 3-0 away from home. 

They won their inaugural game of this competition defeating Slavia Praha 3-2.

Their form in Ligue 1, finds them in 9th place currently this weekend having lost to local rivals Lens 1-0 away from home.

However, they beat Lyon at home in the league 2-1 and at the start of the season defeated Ligue 1 and Champions League Champions PSG in the Trophee des Campions final prior to the when the league kicked off. 

Key players from the hosts will be experienced wingers Florin Thauvin a name familiar with Premier League fans from his time at Newcastle, Thorgan Hazard(younger brother of Eden), and young highly rated Portuguese starlet Mezian Mesloub.

All of them will be pivotal if Lens stands a chance of upsetting Como.

Whereas, the visitors Como have been in stellar form domestically in The Serie A currently sitting 4th and have won two out of three games so far in the Champions League, in the recent game annihilating Manchester United and Leipzig both 4-1 at Stadio Giuseppe Singala.

However, they lost 3-2 away against Dutch Champions Feyenoord in the second match of this competition.

Cesc Fabregas manager since 2024, will be aspiring for a strong campaign in this season’s Champions League following the remarkable rise of this club with him coaching them since 2024 and retiring from an illustrious playing career at the club in 2023.

Como are stacked with very talented players whom Fabregas has unleashed their potential to the world in Starman Nico Paz, Martin Baturina, Lucas De Cunha, Tasos Douvikas and Jacobo Ramon.

All five are pivotal for their success in this competition and domestically.

The hosts have a few notable absences, last season’s top scorer Ousmane Eduoard a name familiar with Celtic and Crystal Palace fans, will miss this game and future games till next year due to injury. 

Talented Centre Back Ismaelo Ganiou, will be ruled out alongside winger Abdallah Sima.

Whereas the visitors will be missing three of their wingers in Jayden Addai, Assane Diao and Jesus Rodriguez, also new summer transfer signings Trevor Chalobah and Moises Kean are out injured missing this game.

Predicted line ups

Lens: Risser, Aguilar, Baidoo, Udol, Abdulhamid, Cuisance Haidara, Skoras, Kadile, Hazard, Ivanovic

Como: Butez, Couto, Kempf, Ramon, Valle, Perrone, Milla, Paz, Baturina, De Cunha, Douvikas