In France, Lens returns with ten players and puts pressure on Messi’s PSG

Second-placed Lens are not giving up their Ligue 1 title, where they provisionally finished within three points of leaders, Paris Saint-Germain, after beating Reims 2-1 (10th) despite playing with ten men for most of the time meeting

The French capital side are now under particular pressure in Saturday’s home match against Ajaccio (18th), a side who are close to relegation and will be desperate to ramp up their options.

Furthermore, Lens, which had the Argentinian Facundo Medina as owner, provisionally places itself with a five-point margin over Marseille (3rd), which on Sunday receives the last club and already relegated Angers.

In France, the top three in the standings qualify for the Champions League, but finishing second is important because it sends them directly to the group stage of the top European tournament, while the third ones have to face a dangerous and uncomfortable playoff.

Reims took the lead at the Bollaert Stadium, with a penalty converted by English-American Fularin Balogun in the 23rd minute.

Subsequently, Lens turned the tables, with another penalty scored by the Pole Przemyslaw Frankowski (39′) and with a goal in the second half by the Franco-Ivorian Seko Fofana (55′).

Lens’ victory was particularly commendable as they played with ten men for the majority of the game when Austrian Kevin Danso was sent off after 19 minutes.

“This game demonstrate our mental strength, beyond our qualities. When we see that red card, very soon, and we see each other down 1-0, it wasn’t easy. What the guys have achieved is something huge” celebrated Lens coach Franck Haise.

“The message that needs to be sent is that we need to keep calm – he underlined -. I know what these players are capable of, but there are times when they even surprise me. They are a surprising group.”

It was Lens’ fourth consecutive league win as they confidently tackle the final stretch of a season in which they have been the revelation team.

At home, Lens have been almost untouchable this season: in 18 games there he won 16he drew one and lost another.

“This is magic, the power of Bollaert, the group, the mood, the collective strength… We have everything we need. We want to enjoy this weekend off because we ran a lot today, Reims came to put us in trouble and they did it,” commented Lens forward Florian Sotoca after the win.

The three rivals that Lens has left until the end of this Ligue 1 (Lorient, Ajaccio and Auxerre) seem approachable and allow the northern team to dream of a historic goal and dethrone PSG in what appears to be Messi’s last tournament on French soil.