RC Lens

Sage’s Lens deploy a flexible 3-4-2-1/5-4-1 hybrid, emphasizing wing-back width, high pressing, and direct vertical play to maximize transition moments. In possession, Abdul Samed and Baptiste Santamaria anchor the midfield, while Moïse Sahi Dion offers a new vertical threat up front. The wing-back duo of Frankowski and Machado are central to overloads and chance creation, with set-piece routines an increasing weapon.

• Press-resistant wing-backs driving wide overloads
• Set-piece proficiency (14 goals last season)
• CB depth enabling aggressive mid-blocks

Lens’ vulnerabilities center on goal conversion, disrupted build-up, and recent coaching changes—presenting OM with clear tactical opportunities. The absence of Medina’s progressive passing slows the first phase unless Abdul Samed drops deep, while the lack of a proven 20-goal striker places heavy reliance on Sahi Dion’s development. OM should target early diagonal balls behind Lens’s wing-backs, exploit transition spaces before the mid-block resets, and capitalize on set-piece lapses—particularly with Clauss pressing Frankowski—to tilt the contest for Champions League qualification.