Matchday: Lens-Lorient (Stade Félix Bollaert)

By: Xavier | October 31st, 2009

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Another tense Saturday afternoon awaits the Stade Félix Bollaert today as a surprising Lorient side arrives from the lovely seaside department of Morbihan in Brittany.

In one of many shocking surprises this season, the Lorentais stand sixth in the league table having already taken seventeen points. Master tactician Christian Gourcuff has his side playing cracking football and the father of France International star Yoann Gourcuff believes his side can accomplish some special things this season.

“We understand the context: Lens is at bay and must respond. The stage is set. In such a context, if there is also the little question about the other day (defeated at Sochaux, 1-0) It will be difficult … I can’t make assumptions about the match but we are also required to respond. Right now what I want most is a positive reaction from my team. We have our match of reference against Nice (two weeks ago Lorient-Nice: 4-1). It’s still fresh in the memory. We know what to do. ”

On the other end of the stick, rumours continue to swirl about coach Jean-Guy Wallemme. He could very well lose his post with another negative result today. Indeed, former Lens and Tunisia head coach Roger Lemerre has been present at the last few contests at the Bollaert and many believe he is next in line to try and salvage this once great club.

On the pitch Lens has struggled to piece together any kind of offensive consistency in recent weeks, scoring only twice in the league since the end of August. Meanwhile the defense has been arguably the worst in Ligue 1. A perfect storm for certain re-relegation.

Surprisingly though the Lensois have been fortunate with injuries thus far, but even this has caught up as captain Eric Chelle is now nursing a broken nose. Even so, with the complete lack of depth at center back the Mali International will be expected to suit up and play with some form of protection on his face. Rising star Samba Sow has been out with a virus, which has not been confirmed to be related to H1N1 swine flu. However, the condition will be enough to keep him out of action today. A big blow indeed as Sow has been Lens’ most spectacular player since management finally decided to bring the coveted prospect up to the first squad.

The match will be interesting if only to observe the fan reaction at the Bollaert. If Lens concedes first, look for the crowd to turn quickly on Wallemme and the players. At this point the Lens faithful are rightfully fed up with the club’s disgraceful and inexcusable decline of the past two years and have long since shed their renowned patience. `

Le Groupe Lensois: Kasraoui, Runje ; Chelle, Laurenti, Ramos, Sartre, Yahia ; Demont, Jemaa, Hermach, Kovacevic, Milovanovic, Roudet ; Akalé, Boukari, Eduardo, Maoulida, Monnet-Paquet.

Le Groupe Lorentais: F. Audard, L. Cappone ; M. Baca, B. Genton, L. Koscielny, A. Le Lan, S. Marchal, F. Sosa ; M. Amalfitano, S. Diarra, P. Ducasse, Y. Mansouri, A. Mvuemba, G. Peñalba; K. Gameiro, O. Monterrubio, M. Vahirua, J. Sakuwaha.

Viewing Options: I will update if a stream is found. Free to air satellite available through Hot Bird 8.

Stream Update:http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=53754&part=sports