Lens vs Sporting CP: Preview, H2H, Stats, Team News & Lineups

Lens host Sporting CP in UEFA Champions League Matchday 2 on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Kick-off is at 18:45 SAST, with both teams looking to make it two wins from two after strong starts to the league phase.

Check the latest available Lens vs Sporting CP odds and football markets on SportPesa South Africa. Our UEFA Champions League 2026/27 guide covers the competition format, teams and key dates.

Lens opened with a 3-2 away win over Slavia Praha, while Sporting CP beat Galatasaray 3-1. Both therefore arrive on three points and with an opportunity to build early momentum.

For the confirmed teams, live score, match events and updated statistics, check the game on SP Score.

Match detail	Information
Fixture	Lens vs Sporting CP
Competition	UEFA Champions League 2026/27
Stage	League Phase – Matchday 2
Date	Tuesday, 13 October 2026
Venue	Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Kick-off in South Africa	18:45 SAST
Lens coach	Yannick Cahuzac
Sporting CP coach	Rui Borges
Referee	Igor Pajač
Live scores and stats	SP Score
Odds and markets	SportPesa South Africa

READ ALSO: Slavia praha vs Lens

Lens come into the match after beating Lyon 2-1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Their recent results include:

·       Lens 2-1 Lyon

·       Monaco 2-1 Lens

·       Le Mans 2-2 Lens

·       Slavia Praha 2-3 Lens

·       Lens 0-1 Lorient

·       Strasbourg 2-1 Lens

The 3-2 win away to Slavia Praha gave Lens three points from their opening Champions League match, while the victory over Lyon provided a positive response domestically.

Sporting CP arrive after a 3-1 away win against Braga.

Their recent results include:

·       Braga 1-3 Sporting CP

·       Sporting CP 2-2 Arouca

·       Famalicão 1-1 Sporting CP

·       Sporting CP 3-1 Galatasaray

·       Sporting CP 2-0 Nacional

·       Rio Ave 0-4 Sporting CP

Sporting remain unbeaten across that six-game run and have scored at least twice in five of those matches.

Both sides therefore come into Matchday 2 after victories, with Sporting carrying the stronger recent unbeaten sequence and Lens returning to a ground where they have been difficult to beat in European competition.

Lens have several players unavailable for the visit of Sporting CP.

Abdallah Sima remains out, while Jhoanner Chávez and Jonathan Gradit are also sidelined. Maik Nawrocki is unavailable with a long-term knee injury.

Sporting CP are without Zeno Debast, Nuno Santos and Rodrigo Zalazar.

The final squad picture can still change before kick-off, so confirmed availability should be checked when the teams are announced.

Lens are expected to start in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Robin Risser; Ismaëlo Ganiou, Kyllian Antonio, Samson Baidoo; Ruben Aguilar, Yacine Titraoui, Michaël Cuisance, Matthieu Udol; Florian Thauvin, Franjo Ivanović; Odsonne Édouard.

Sporting CP are expected to use a 4-2-3-1.

Rui Silva; Georgios Vagiannidis, Eduardo Quaresma, Gonçalo Inácio, Maximiliano Araújo; Sergi Altimira, Issa Doumbia; Geny Catamo, Flávio Gonçalves, Nestory Irankunda; Luis Suárez.

These remain predicted rather than confirmed lineups. Check SP Score once the official starting teams are announced.

Lens and Sporting CP have not previously met in a competitive fixture.

There is still some useful history against opposition from each other’s countries. Lens won their previous European home game against Portuguese opposition, while Sporting CP have recorded just one victory in their last eight away matches against French clubs, alongside two draws and five defeats.

That record gives some context to Sporting’s trip to Stade Bollaert-Delelis even though there is no direct Lens vs Sporting CP H2H history.

Lens and Sporting CP both began the Champions League league phase with three points and three goals.

Champions League stat	Lens	Sporting CP
Goals scored	3	3
Goals conceded	2	1
Expected goals (xG)	1.77	1.55
Expected goals conceded (xGA)	2.12	1.02
Possession	63%	38%
Save percentage	60%	75%

Lens had considerably more possession in their opening game, but their 2.12 expected goals conceded shows how much danger Slavia Praha were still able to create.

Sporting CP had less of the ball against Galatasaray, yet allowed fewer high-quality chances and finished with the better goal difference.

Lens have also built a strong European home record, losing only two of their last 29 UEFA home matches and remaining unbeaten in their last ten. Their Champions League defensive record is less convincing, with no clean sheet in their last 14 matches in the competition.

Sporting have won just one of their last nine European away matches, although they remain unbeaten away from home across all competitions since March.

Other recent trends include both teams scoring in six of Lens’ last seven matches, Lens scoring ten of their last 13 goals after half-time, and 12 of Sporting’s last 14 competitive matches producing at least three goals.

Florian Thauvin remains one of Lens’ main creative players. He can receive between the lines, carry the ball into central areas and find teammates around the penalty area.

Franjo Ivanović adds a physical presence through the middle and has useful familiarity with Sporting CP after facing them twice while with Benfica last season.

Geny Catamo gives Sporting pace and direct running from wide areas. His ability to attack space could become important when Lens push their wing-backs forward.

Luis Suárez leads Sporting’s attack and already has a Champions League goal this season. His Matchday 1 xG of 0.88 also shows how regularly he found dangerous shooting positions.

Lens are expected to use three defenders with Ruben Aguilar and Matthieu Udol providing width. That setup gives them extra numbers in midfield and allows Florian Thauvin and Franjo Ivanović to operate closer to Odsonne Édouard.

The risk comes when the wing-backs move forward. Sporting’s wide attackers can attack the space left behind them, especially if Rui Borges’ side regain possession quickly.

Sporting’s 4-2-3-1 gives them two deeper midfielders behind three attacking players. The central battle will influence how often Lens can find Thauvin between the lines and how easily Sporting can release Geny Catamo and Nestory Irankunda into space.

Croatian referee Igor Pajač will take charge of the game. Recent officiating data puts him at around 4.2 yellow cards and 23.7 fouls per match. Those figures provide background on his refereeing record rather than a prediction of how this match will be handled.

Lens vs Sporting CP is scheduled for live coverage on SuperSport Football Plus in South Africa, with coverage due to begin shortly before kick-off.

Broadcast schedules can change, so viewers should confirm the latest channel listing before the match.

Lens and Sporting CP both enter Matchday 2 with three points after winning their opening fixtures.

Team	Played	Points	Goals
Sporting CP	1	3	3-1
Lens	1	3	3-2

With the league phase still at an early stage, positions can change quickly as the rest of Matchday 2 is completed.

Check SP Score for the latest Champions League table and results.

Once the match gets underway, SP Score provides the latest:

·       live score

·       confirmed lineups

·       goals and cards

·       substitutions

·       match events

·       match statistics

·       final result

·       Champions League standings

Both teams arrive after winning their opening Champions League fixture.

Lens have home advantage and a strong recent European record at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, but they have also been giving opponents chances. Sporting CP have been effective without dominating possession and arrive with a long unbeaten away run across all competitions.

The spaces behind Lens’ wing-backs could become important if Sporting win the ball and attack quickly. At the other end, Lens will want to use their central numbers to get Thauvin, Ivanović and Édouard into dangerous areas.

For match predictions, use SportPesa’s prediction platform where available. This preview focuses on the form, team news, statistics and tactical setup around the fixture.

The latest Lens vs Sporting CP odds are available on SportPesa South Africa.

Depending on availability, match markets can include:

·       Match Result – 1X2

·       Double Chance

·       Over/Under Goals

·       Both Teams to Score

·       handicap markets

·       other pre-match football markets

Check SportPesa South Africa for the latest available markets and prices.

Once the game starts, Check SportPesa South Africa  for live markets as the action develops.

Available options can change after goals, cards, substitutions and other match events.

Use SP Score to keep up with the game and SportPesa South Africa to check the live markets available at the time.

Lens vs Sporting CP takes place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.

Kick-off is at 18:45 SAST.

The match takes place at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

Yannick Cahuzac is the Lens head coach.

Rui Borges is in charge of Sporting CP.

The clubs have not previously met in a competitive fixture.

Check SP Score once the official teams are announced.

SP Score provides the live score, lineups, match events, statistics, results and standings.

Current Lens vs Sporting CP markets are available on SportPesa South Africa.

SportPesa provides prediction  platform for the Lens vs Sporting CP game  . 

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Conclusion

Lens and Sporting CP both arrive with three points after winning their opening Champions League matches.

Lens have home advantage and a strong recent European record, while Sporting travel to France with an unbeaten away run across all competitions and plenty of attacking confidence.

Lens will want to control the game through their midfield and wing-backs, while Sporting have the pace to attack the space left behind when the home side push forward.

Check SP Score for the confirmed teams, live score and match updates. Current Lens vs Sporting CP odds and available markets can be found on SportPesa South Africa.

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