Pierre Sage : « On s'est dit que ce serait bien d'être la première génération à le faire » Pierre Sage, entraîneur du RC Lens, entame sa première saison à la tête du club lensois avec l’ambition de briser une malédiction historique : la Coupe de France. Après avoir perdu la finale de cette compétition en 2024 avec l’OL (1-2 contre le PSG), le technicien de 47 ans cherche à écrire une nouvelle page pour son club, qui n’a jamais remporté le trophée. La rencontre face à Nice, ce vendredi au Stade de France, représente une opportunité inédite pour le collectif lensois, déjà vice-champion de France. Sage, récompensé récemment du titre de meilleur entraîneur de Ligue 1, a confié à L’Équipe son attachement à la Coupe de France. Pour lui, cette compétition incarne l’essence du football français, un lieu où se croisent des équipes de tous niveaux. « La Coupe, c’est aussi un échec pour moi en tant qu’entraîneur », a-t-il rappelé, évoquant deux défaites marquantes : la finale de 2024 contre le PSG et une élimination en tirs au but face à Bourgoin-Jallieu (2-4) en 2025. Cette année, il souhaite transformer cette échec en victoire, en mettant en lumière la saison historique de Lens. Le club, qui a remporté le titre de champion de France en 1998, reste à ce jour le seul grand club français à ne pas avoir gagné la Coupe de France. « On a un club qui a 120 ans et qui mérite d’être récompensé », a souligné Sage, soulignant l’importance de cette victoire pour la génération actuelle. Bien que la saison de rêve reste l’obtention du doublé Ligue 1-Coupe de France, une victoire en finale serait déjà une réalisation extraordinaire. Le parcours de Lens en Coupe de France a été marqué par des moments intenses. Le quart de finale contre Lyon, où le club a égalisé à 2-2 avant de gagner aux tirs au but (5-4), a été un test de résilience.#coupe_de_france #rc_lens #pierre_sage #nice #stade_de_france

Mezian Mesloub's Stunning Debut Goal Sparks Emotional Reactions at RC Lens Mezian Mesloub, a 16-year-old prodigy, delivered a breathtaking performance on his professional debut, scoring the opening goal for RC Lens within 20 seconds of entering the match. The young forward’s strike secured a 1-0 victory over Nantes in a crucial Ligue 1 encounter at the Bollaert stadium on May 8, 2026. The goal not only propelled Lens into the next round of the UEFA Champions League but also ignited a wave of emotions among his family, coaches, and teammates. The moment marked a historic milestone for Mesloub, who became the youngest player to score for the club in its history. His father, Walid Mesloub, an ex-capitain and current assistant coach for the club’s elite squad, expressed overwhelming pride and disbelief. Speaking to Ligue 1+, Walid shared, “I was already emotional about his call-up, but seeing him on the pitch, touching the same turf I did as a player, with such a high-stakes match, and scoring so early—it’s beyond anything I imagined. He’s worked incredibly hard, and this is a reward for his dedication. The path is still long, but I’m so proud of him as a father first.” Walid emphasized the collective effort of the club’s coaching staff, medical team, and youth academy, thanking them for their role in nurturing young talent. Jean-Louis Leca, the club’s sporting director and a former captain of Lens, also voiced his admiration for Mesloub. Leca, who has known the young player since childhood, recounted how Mesloub would visit his home as a 10-year-old, often staying for meals. “There’s a lot of emotion tonight because I started my journey with his father, who was my captain. Seeing him step into the spotlight now is surreal,” Leca said.#rc_lens #mezian_mesloub #walid_mesloub #jean_louis_lecta #bollaert_stadium

Ligue 1+ Propose Accès Gratuit aux Matchs ce Week-End Du vendredi 24 avril au dimanche 26 avril, les utilisateurs de L'Équipe pourront suivre en direct les rencontres de la 31e journée de Ligue 1 diffusées sur Ligue 1+ sans abonnement. Pour accéder aux matchs, il suffit de se connecter à un compte L'Équipe ou de créer un compte gratuitement sur le site ou l’application. Cette offre exceptionnelle permet de découvrir les rencontres en clair, sans frais, sur les plateformes de L'Équipe. Le programme du week-end inclut plusieurs affiches marquantes. Vendredi à 20h45, Brest accueille le RC Lens. Samedi, Angers affronte le Paris SG, récent qualifié pour les demi-finales de la Ligue des champions, à 19h, suivi de Toulouse-AS Monaco à 21h05. Le dimanche se conclut avec cinq rencontres : Lorient-Strasbourg à 15h, Rennes-Nantes, Le Havre-Metz et Paris FC-LOSC à 17h15, ainsi que l’OM-Nice à 20h45. Tous ces matchs seront accessibles directement sur le site et l’application L'Équipe. En plus de cette offre temporaire, la chaîne Ligue 1 McDonald’s est disponible en permanence sur L'Équipe. Cette saison, l’abonnement combiné L'Équipe + Ligue 1+ permet d’accéder à la chaîne Ligue 1+ pour suivre les 8 matches en direct chaque journée, tout en bénéficiant d’un accès illimité aux contenus de L'Équipe, notamment les articles, les documentaires, les podcasts, la chaîne L'Équipe live foot, le journal numérique, et les magazines France Football, Vélo Magazine, etc. À partir de la saison prochaine (2026-2027, début le 21 août), 100% des matchs de la Ligue 1 McDonald’s seront disponibles sur Ligue 1+, accessible via le site et l’application L'Équipe. Cette offre combine une immersion totale dans l’expérience de la Ligue 1 McDonald’s, avec des analyses et des décryptages en temps réel. L’abonnement L'Équipe + Ligue 1+ propose des tarifs avantageux.#l_equipe #angers #rc_lens #ligue_1_plus #brest

Lens Predicted XI v Lille: A Derby to Keep Title Dreams Alive RC Lens returned to winning ways just before the international break with a commanding 5-1 victory over Angers SCO, reigniting hopes for a strong finish to the season. Now, the club faces one of the most critical matches of their campaign as they travel to face rivals Lille OSC in a high-stakes Ligue 1 clash. For Lille, the game represents a crucial opportunity to maintain their title aspirations, but the task is far from straightforward. Lille, currently in a tight race for the league title, finds themselves in a precarious position. The Sang et Or squad must secure a win to keep their ambitions alive, yet they are missing several key defenders who have been sidelined for weeks. Coach Pierre Sage’s team will once again be without Ruben Aguilar, Samson Baidoo, Jonathan Gradit, and Kyllian Antonio, all of whom have been absent for significant periods. The absence of these players adds pressure to an already challenging fixture, as Lille looks to overcome their defensive vulnerabilities. Compounding the difficulties, Arthur Masuaku, a vital midfielder for Lille, is set to miss the match. The player is attending a presidential reception in the Democratic Republic of Congo following his country’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup. His absence further weakens Lille’s midfield options, leaving them to rely on depth and tactical adjustments to counter Lens’s attacking threat. Lens, on the other hand, enters the game in confident form after their recent win. The team’s attacking prowess, highlighted by their 5-1 dismantling of Angers, suggests they are capable of challenging Lille. However, the match will test their ability to adapt to Lille’s defensive setup and capitalize on any weaknesses.#rc_lens #angers_sco #pierre_sage #democratic_republic_of_congo #lille_osc

PSG Must Confirm Return to Form After Ligue 1 Clash with Nice Following RC Lens’ decisive 5-1 victory over Angers on Friday, Paris Saint-Germain faces a crucial challenge as it aims to reclaim its position at the top of the Ligue 1 table. The club, which suffered a 1-3 defeat to AS Monaco in its previous Ligue 1 match two weeks ago, returns to action this Saturday evening (21:05 on Ligue 1+) in the 27th round of the league. The match against OGC Nice will be pivotal for Luis Enrique’s team, as the French champions must secure a win to reassert their dominance. RC Lens’ emphatic win over Angers has temporarily placed them in first place, with a two-point lead over PSG. The Parisians, however, will need to demonstrate their renewed strength after a strong performance in the Champions League. Following their 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, PSG must prove their form is consistent across competitions. According to sports journalist Vincent Duluc of L’Equipe, Luis Enrique faces the challenge of refocusing his squad amid the pressures of the Champions League quarterfinals against Liverpool (scheduled for April 8 and 14) and an international break that will sideline most of his squad. The match against Nice will also test PSG’s ability to adapt without key players. Bradley Barcola, the club’s most utilized forward, is sidelined due to a hamstring injury, leaving a gap in their attacking options. Barcola, who scored five goals in his last six matches, was instrumental in creating opportunities through his deep runs. His absence may provide an opportunity for Désiré Doué to regain confidence and rejoin the attacking trio alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, who combined effectively during their European campaign last spring.#paris_saint_germain #luis_enrique #bradley_barcola #rc_lens #ogc_nice

Harouna Djibirin vs. RC Lens – Player Props & Odds to Score a Goal on March 20 Harouna Djibirin is set to face RC Lens in Angers SCO’s upcoming Ligue 1 match on Friday, March 20, at 3:45 PM ET. BetMGM Sportsbook has released updated odds for Djibirin to score a goal in the game, with the latest information available as of Friday at 12:40 PM ET. Fans looking to place bets on the player’s performance should review the odds and statistical insights provided. Angers SCO’s recent performance highlights a key point to consider. In their last match, the team suffered a 2-0 defeat at home against OGC Nice on March 14. The match saw Nice dominate in terms of shot count, outshooting Angers by a margin of 12 to six. This trend could influence the dynamics of the upcoming game, particularly for players like Djibirin, who will need to contribute offensively to help turn the tide. Djibirin’s 2026-27 season stats provide further context for his potential impact. While specific numbers are not detailed, the overall scoring insights for the Angers SCO vs. RC Lens matchup suggest that both teams will be looking to capitalize on key opportunities. The match is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both sides aiming to secure a crucial victory in the league standings. For those following Ligue 1 action, the game between Angers SCO and RC Lens is a key fixture to watch. The odds for Djibirin to score reflect the expectations surrounding his role in the team’s attack. As the match approaches, fans and bettors will be closely monitoring the player’s form and the overall team strategies that could shape the outcome. The betting landscape for this match includes a range of player props and match-related wagers, with BetMGM Sportsbook offering detailed breakdowns of the odds.#betmgm_sportsbook #ligue_1 #rc_lens #harouna_djibirin #angers_sco

Angers faces a challenging test in their Ligue 1 encounter against RC Lens, as the team will be without their standout goalkeeper, Hervé Koffi, due to his parent club affiliation. Koffi, who joined Angers on loan at the start of the season, has been a key figure in the squad, delivering consistent performances that have earned praise for his commanding presence between the posts. His absence against Lens is particularly significant, as it not only impacts the team’s defensive stability but also affects long-term planning for the upcoming season. Koffi’s loan spell has been instrumental in his development, with his reliability in goal bolstering his prospects of securing the No.1 position at Angers’ Stade Bollaert in the future. However, his inability to play against Lens, a team he previously represented, means the club must rely on younger goalkeeper Oumar Pona to step up. While Pona has shown promise in training, this high-stakes match against a top-tier opponent will serve as a crucial test of his readiness to handle pressure at the professional level. The absence of Koffi is further compounded by the unavailability of striker Goduine Koyalipou, who also cannot face his parent club, and the injury sidelining of Prosper Peter. This leaves Angers without their primary attacking options, forcing head coach Éric Roy to make significant tactical adjustments. The team’s lineup will need to adapt to these challenges while maintaining their competitive edge in a tightly contested league race. Despite the setbacks, Angers aims to capitalize on any vulnerabilities in Lens’ setup and secure vital points. The match presents an opportunity for younger players like Pona to showcase their talent on a major stage, potentially influencing future selection decisions.#angers #rc_lens #herve_koffi #oumar_pona #eric_roy
