Matchday: Lens-Sochaux (Stade Auguste Bonal)

By: Xavier | November 7th, 2009

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Today Lens travels to Montbéliard in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France, where the famous Peugeot automobile plant resides and where a slick European voiture is produced every 30 seconds. The global recession has hit this commune very hard and the local economy has witnessed sharp declines. However the same cannot be said about its venerable football club founded in 1928.

At the forefront of the club’s resurgence is Lens’ former iconic head coach Francis Gillot who commanded the last great season for the sang et or back in 2005. Indeed, Gillot’s mercurial side missed a direct Champion’s League qualification on the last day of the Ligue 1 season. Many commentators point to that day as the beginning of the end for the golden era at Lens.

After that dreadful match against Troyes Gillot resigned and the rest is history. The following year saw the arrival of the hated Guy Roux who presided over the beginning of the long march toward relegation.

Gillot eventually resurfaced with his current club last season. In the throes of a pitched relegation battle Sochaux President Jean-Claude Plessis called on the erstwhile Lensois to save the day. And save the day he did as Sochaux avoided relegation and the almost certain dismantling of the old football club.

090204gillot Today Gillot has his club in 13th place having taken fifteen points from eleven matches. Les Lionceaux have recorded recorded some pretty strong results, including victories over Lyon and surprising Lorient over the course of the last month.

On the other side of the ledger is our protagonist Lens. As regular readers of this blog know Lens were expected by far to be the best performing of the promoted sides. With a swath of players boasting significant Ligue 1 and international experience, youngsters from one of France’s best youth systems and a passionate fan-base, it has been a rather disappointing season for the northern giants to say the least.

Currently sitting at 18th in the Ligue table, if the season were to end today, Lens would again find themselves in the clutches of Ligue 2, an uncomfortable position indeed for this historically great club. French football website Football 365 summed up the situation perfectly with the headline “Plus Sang Que Or”, “More Blood Than Gold”, a pun on the club’s nickname les Sang et Or.

Last week’s draw against Lorient was shaky as the home fans were on the verge of raiding the pitch after the club conceded a first goal to Lorient. However, Eduardo was able to somehow head home a very improbable equalizer before the break. The club had several other chances to score during the coarse of the match but continue to struggle with the final touch.

But despite last week’s moderate success coach Jean-Guy Wallemme is still very much on the hot seat, especially with the fans. Players and management seem to be behind the former legendary defender, however a loss at Sochaux may finally put an end to his rocky tenure. On the other hand, a victory will do much for the club’s confidence and a possible turn around may just be around the corner. Indeed, today’s match will be of great importance. But at this point they all are aren’t they?

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

Le Groupe Sochalien: Dreyer, Richert: Faty, Perquis, Jokic, Mikari, Josse, Dramé: Martin, Gavanon, Nogueira, Boudebouz, Dalmat, Maurice-Belay: Sverkos, Privat

Viewing Options: The game will be broadcast on Setanta Sports at 2:55 pm ET. Setanta Sports is available in the United States through a satellite subscription with Direct TV or Dish Network. Also available free to air throughout Europe through Hot Bird 8.

Streaming: http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=53764&part=sports