It is a big part of his season that the Racing Club of Lens played this Thursday evening, in the suffocating atmosphere of the OAKA Spyridon Louis in Athens. After its precious success in the first leg a week ago (2-1), Will Still’s team should finish the job against this Panathinaikos team experienced in continental jousts.
A delicate balance of power for the Blood and Gold, who approached this second round with a decimated defensive sector. In addition to Danso, who is about to leave and therefore unavailable, Lens also had to do without Medina, suspended after his red card received in the first leg.
Lens may have regrets
Weighed down by these obstacles, the Lensois did not find the technical, athletic and mental resources to achieve an ideal result. A trap was to be expected. It did indeed happen. The Blood and Gold tried to play with personality to get rid of this Greek team, but the bubbling atmosphere of the Athens stadium carried their opponent.
The first act was not, however, overwhelming. Without ideas, the locals did not really worry a Lens team that was interesting with quick attacks, but which will have regrets after Sotoca’s missed penalty. It was after the break that things went wrong. After two new dangerous situations for Saïd (51st) and Thomasson (57th), Pana found the opening through Pellistri, whose shot hit the target (1-0, 62nd). The two teams then sniffed each other out from a distance, before the Greeks delivered the final blow 5 minutes from the end, with a victorious recovery from Tetê (2-0, 85th). A cruel scenario for Lens, who would have deserved something else given the content on offer.
