PLAYER RATINGS | Freiburg 3-2 Lens: Impressive comeback eliminates Les Sang et Or from Europe

The opening leg of RC Lens and SC Freiburg’s Europa League clash had been an entertaining but goalless tie, which left it all to play for as Les Sang et Or visited Stade Europa-Park. 

It was a tentative start for both sides as caution perhaps took control of the occasion. Lens began to grow into the game as they attacked the wings and looked to whip in a cross towards Elye Wahi. 

However, very little was on offer for much of the first half, and the game needed a mistake to spark into life. As has happened so often for a team that has conceded 15 in their last five Bundesliga games, a lapse of judgment undid Freiburg’s efforts. 

Freiburg’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu leapt for Przemysław Frankowski’s freekick but misjudged the flight of the ball. His catch quickly turned into a punch which fell directly into the path of David Pereira da Costa whose shot swept into the net to put Lens into the lead. 

On the brink of halftime, another mistake from the hosts increased the pressure on them. Manuel Gulde challenged a long ball to Wahi and like his goalkeeper before him mistimed his jump falling to the floor and allowing the forward to steam from the halfway line into the box where a delightful dinked shot over Atubolu doubled the lead for Lens. 

Freiburg made an attacking double change at half time bringing off the centre-back Kiliann Sildillia and full-back Jean-Victor Makengo for the winger Noah Weißhaupt and forward Michael Gregoritsch. Unable to rest on their laurels, the hosts looked to control possession and carve out a route back into this game. 

The hosts will perhaps point to the eventual non-decision as a particularly cruel moment in the game as Abdukodir Khusanov’s heavy tackle on Merlin Röhl was deemed to not be