Lens and Sporting CP have named their line-ups for this Champions League meeting, with Florian Thauvin at the centre of Lens' attack. The home side go with a 3-4-2-1, and the shape puts Thauvin behind Franjo Ivanovic alongside Junior Kadilé, with wing-backs in Saud Abdulhamid and Matthieu Udol.
Thauvin has 3 Ligue 1 goals and 4 assists this season, plus 1 Champions League goal, so Lens have leaned into the player who gives them the cleanest route to end product. A 7.65 league rating backs that up, and Robin Risser starts behind Ismaëlo Ganiou, Samson Baidoo and Kyllian Antonio in the back three.
Sporting CP's 4-3-3
Sporting CP respond with a 4-3-3, with Luis Suarez leading the line alongside Nestory Irankunda and Geny Catamo. It is a selection that keeps pace on the wings and gives them a more stretched front three than Lens' narrower attacking pair.
The standings also add some context. Lens are 10th in the Champions League table after one match, while Sporting CP sit 7th after one match. Lens have won 2 of their last 5 matches, including the 3-2 win at Slavia Praha, while Sporting CP arrive unbeaten in their last 5, with 3 wins and 2 draws.
The line-ups tell you what both managers want from Lens vs Sporting CP: Lens trust Thauvin to connect play and finish it, while Sporting CP have gone for width and balance from the start.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
