2020–21 RC Lens season

The 2020–21 season was the 115th season in the existence of RC Lens and the club's first season back in the top flight of French football. In addition to the domestic league, Lens participated in this season's edition of the Coupe de France. The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

RC Lens
2020–21 season
PresidentJoseph Oughourlian
Head coachFranck Haise
StadiumStade Bollaert-Delelis
Ligue 17th
Coupe de FranceRound of 32
Top goalscorerLeague:
Gaël Kakuta (11)

All:
Gaël Kakuta (11)
Biggest winMonaco 0–3 Lens
Lens 4–1 Lorient
Biggest defeatLille 4–0 Lens

Players edit

First-team squad edit

As of 29 January 2021.[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF   GUI Issiaga Sylla (on loan from Toulouse)
4 DF   FRA Loïc Badé
5 DF   FRA Zakaria Diallo
7 FW   FRA Florian Sotoca
8 MF   CIV Seko Fofana
9 FW   CMR Ignatius Ganago
10 MF   COD Gaël Kakuta (on loan from Amiens)
11 DF   FRA Jonathan Clauss
13 DF   FRA Clément Michelin
14 DF   ARG Facundo Medina
15 DF   CPV Steven Fortès
16 GK   FRA Jean-Louis Leca (vice-captain)
18 MF   FRA Yannick Cahuzac (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF   COM Ismael Boura
20 DF   MLI Cheick Traoré
21 DF   MLI Massadio Haïdara
22 MF   FRA Tony Mauricio
23 FW   COD Simon Banza
24 DF   FRA Jonathan Gradit
25 FW   FRA Corentin Jean
28 MF   MLI Cheick Doucouré
29 FW   FRA Arnaud Kalimuendo (on loan from PSG)
30 GK   VEN Wuilker Faríñez (on loan from Millonarios)
34 MF   POR David Costa
35 DF   FRA Adrien Louveau
MF   FRA Adam Oudjani

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   FRA Valentin Belon (on loan at Laval)
GK   FRA Thomas Vincensini (on loan at Bastia)
FW   FRA Gaëtan Robail (on loan at Valenciennes FC)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   SCO Charles Boli (on loan at Paris FC)
MF   FRA Tom Ducrocq (on loan at Bastia)
FW   GUI Jules Keita (on loan at CSKA Sofia)

Transfers edit

In edit

No. Pos Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
15   TBD 1 July 2020

Out edit

No. Pos Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
15   TBD 1 July 2020

Pre-season and friendlies edit

  Win   Draw   Loss

16 July 2020 Friendly Lens   1–3   Le Havre Billy-Montigny, France
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
  • Sotoca   24'
Report
Stadium: Les Carabiniers Billy-Montigny
Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France)
21 July 2020 Friendly Lens   1–1   Gent Billy-Montigny, France
16:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Paul Guerre
22 July 2020 Friendly FC Chambly   Cancelled   Lens Chambly, France
17:00 CEST (UTC+2) Stadium: Stade des Marais
1 August 2020 Friendly Genk   1–1   Lens Genk, Belgium
13:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Luminus Arena
Attendance: 0
1 August 2020 Friendly Genk   2–3   Lens Genk, Belgium
15:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Luminus Arena
Attendance: 0
5 August 2020 Friendly Lens   1–3   Union Saint-Gilloise Billy-Montigny, France
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Les Carabiniers Billy-Montigny
Attendance: 0
5 August 2020 Friendly Lens   1–2   Paris FC Billy-Montigny, France
18:30 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Paul Guerre
Attendance: 0
15 August 2020 Friendly Lens   Cancelled   FC Chambly Lens, France
14:00 CEST (UTC+2) Report Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
15 August 2020 Friendly Lens   Cancelled   Sparta Rotterdam Lens, France
19:00 CEST (UTC+2) Report Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
15 August 2020 Friendly Lens   1–0   Dijon Lens, France
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
3 September 2020 Friendly Lens   5–2   Charleroi Lens, France
12:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: La Gaillette
Attendance: 0
3 September 2020 Friendly Lens   Cancelled   Charleroi Lens, France
13:15 CEST (UTC+2) Stadium: La Gaillette

Competitions edit

Overall record edit

Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
Ligue 1 23 August 2020 23 May 2021 Matchday 1 7th 38 15 12 11 55 54 +1 039.47
Coupe de France 10 February 2021 6 March 2021 Round of 64 Round of 32 2 1 0 1 6 5 +1 050.00
Total 40 16 12 12 61 59 +2 040.00

Last updated: 23 May 2021
Source: Soccerway

Ligue 1 edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
5 Marseille 38 16 12 10 54 47 +7 60 Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
6 Rennes 38 16 10 12 52 40 +12 58 Qualification for the Europa Conference League play-off round[a]
7 Lens 38 15 12 11 55 54 +1 57
8 Montpellier 38 14 12 12 60 62 −2 54
9 Nice 38 15 7 16 50 53 −3 52
Source: Ligue 1
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Fairplay ranking.[2]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Since the winners of the 2020–21 Coupe de France, Paris Saint-Germain, qualified for European competition based on league position, the Europa League group stage spot reserved for the cup winners was passed to the fifth-placed team, and the Europa Conference League play-off round spot was passed to the sixth-placed team.

Results summary edit

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 15 12 11 55 54  +1 57 7 7 5 28 26  +2 8 5 6 27 28  −1

Last updated: 23 May 2021.
Source: Ligue 1

Results by round edit

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHAH
ResultLWWWDWLDWDWLWLWLWLLDLWDDDWDWDWDWDWLLLD
Position1712646358101189897878910977665656555555667
Source: Ligue 1
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

The league fixtures were announced on 9 July 2020.[3]

23 August 2020 1 Nice 2–1 Lens Nice
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Allianz Riviera
Referee: Jérôme Miguelgorry
10 September 2020 2 Lens 1–0 Paris Saint-Germain Lens
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Hakim Ben El Hadj
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 30 August 2020, but was postponed due to the delayed conclusion of the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League.[4]
13 September 2020 3 Lorient 2–3 Lens Lorient
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade du Moustoir
Referee: Aurélien Petit
19 September 2020 4 Lens 2–1 Bordeaux Lens
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Referee: Benoît Millot
27 September 2020 5 Nîmes 1–1 Lens Nîmes
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade des Costières
Referee: Frank Schneider
3 October 2020 6 Lens 2–0 Saint-Étienne Lens
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Referee: Bastien Dechepy
18 October 2020 7 Lille 4–0 Lens Villeneuve-d'Ascq
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Pierre-Mauroy
Referee: François Letexier
8 November 2020 10 Lens 4–4 Reims Lens
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Thomas Léonard
22 November 2020 11 Dijon 0–1 Lens Dijon
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Gaston Gérard
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eric Wattellier
25 November 2020 8 Lens 1–1 Nantes Lens
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Florent Batta
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 25 October 2020, but was postponed after eleven Lens players tested positive for COVID-19.[5]
29 November 2020 12 Lens 1–3 Angers Lens
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Aurélien Petit
5 December 2020 13 Rennes 0–2 Lens Rennes
17:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Roazhon Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Johan Hamel
12 December 2020 14 Lens 2–3 Montpellier Lens
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérémy Stinat
16 December 2020 15 Monaco 0–3 Lens Monaco
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Louis II
Attendance: 0
Referee: Frank Schneider
19 December 2020 16 Metz 2–0 Lens Metz
17:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Saint-Symphorien
Attendance: 0
Referee: Amaury Delerue
23 December 2020 17 Lens 2–1 Brest Lens
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bastien Dechepy
6 January 2021 18 Lyon 3–2 Lens Décines-Charpieu
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Parc Olympique Lyonnais
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eric Wattellier
9 January 2021 19 Lens 0–1 Strasbourg Lens
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Clément Turpin
17 January 2021 20 Nantes 1–1 Lens Nantes
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire
Attendance: 0
Referee: Frank Schneider
20 January 2021 9 Marseille 0–1 Lens Marseille
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Vélodrome
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérémie Pignard
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 30 October 2020, but was postponed after more than ten Lens players tested positive for COVID-19.[6]
23 January 2021 21 Lens 0–1 Nice Lens
17:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Hakim Ben El Hadj
30 January 2021 22 Montpellier 1–2 Lens Montpellier
17:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Mosson
Attendance: 0
Referee: Amaury Delerue
3 February 2021 23 Lens 2–2 Marseille Lens
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Willy Delajod
6 February 2021 24 Lens 0–0 Rennes Lens
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérémy Stinat
13 February 2021 25 Reims 1–1 Lens Reims
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Auguste-Delaune
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eric Wattellier
21 February 2021 26 Lens 2–1 Dijon Lens
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Benoît Bastien
28 February 2021 27 Angers 2–2 Lens Angers
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Raymond Kopa
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bastien Dechepy
3 March 2021 28 Saint-Étienne 2–3 Lens Saint-Étienne
19:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Attendance: 0
Referee: Amaury Delerue
14 March 2021 29 Lens 2–2 Metz Lens
15:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Florent Batta
21 March 2021 30 Strasbourg 1–2 Lens Strasbourg
13:00 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Meinau
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérémy Stinat
3 April 2021 31 Lens 1–1 Lyon Lens
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Benoît Millot
11 April 2021 32 Lens 4–1 Lorient Lens
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eric Wattellier
18 April 2021 33 Brest 1–1 Lens Brest
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Francis-Le Blé
Attendance: 0
Referee: Karim Abed
25 April 2021 34 Lens 2–1 Nîmes Lens
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Aurélien Petit
1 May 2021 35 Paris Saint-Germain 2–1 Lens Paris
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérôme Brisard
7 May 2021 36 Lens 0–3 Lille Lens
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Clément Turpin
16 May 2021 37 Bordeaux 3–0 Lens Bordeaux
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Matmut Atlantique
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eric Wattellier
23 May 2021 38 Lens 0–0 Monaco Lens
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jérémie Pignard

Coupe de France edit

10 February 2021 Round of 64 Nantes 2–4 Lens Nantes
14:45 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire
Attendance: 0
Referee: Johan Hamel
6 March 2021 Round of 32 Red Star 3–2 Lens Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
14:15 CET (UTC+1)
Report
Stadium: Stade Bauer
Attendance: 0
Referee: Karim Abed

Statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

No. Pos Nat Player Total Ligue 1 Coupe de France
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
16 GK   FRA Jean-Louis Leca 25 0 25 0 0 0
30 GK   VEN Wuilker Faríñez 2 0 0+1 0 1 0
Defenders
3 DF   GUI Issiaga Sylla 18 1 11+6 1 1 0
4 DF   FRA Loïc Badé 21 0 18+2 0 1 0
5 DF   FRA Zakaria Diallo 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 DF   FRA Jonathan Clauss 21 0 17+3 0 1 0
13 DF   FRA Clément Michelin 18 0 10+7 0 0+1 0
14 DF   ARG Facundo Medina 18 2 16+1 2 0+1 0
15 DF   CPV Steven Fortès 13 0 10+2 0 1 0
20 DF   MLI Cheick Traoré 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 DF   MLI Massadio Haïdara 15 0 14+1 0 0 0
24 DF   FRA Jonathan Gradit 22 0 21 0 1 0
35 DF   COM Ismaël Boura 14 0 7+7 0 0 0
Midfielders
8 MF   CIV Seko Fofana 20 0 14+5 0 0+1 0
10 MF   COD Gaël Kakuta 25 9 22+2 9 0+1 0
18 MF   FRA Yannick Cahuzac 20 0 16+3 0 1 0
22 MF   FRA Tony Mauricio 19 0 1+17 0 1 0
28 MF   MLI Cheick Doucouré 23 3 19+3 2 1 1
34 MF   POR David Costa 2 0 0+2 0 0 0
Forwards
7 FW   FRA Florian Sotoca 25 7 22+2 7 0+1 0
9 FW   CMR Ignatius Ganago 18 5 11+7 5 0 0
23 FW   COD Simon Banza 23 3 9+14 3 0 0
25 FW   FRA Corentin Jean 16 2 3+12 0 1 2
29 FW   FRA Arnaud Kalimuendo 18 5 7+10 4 0+1 1
Players transferred out during the season
1 GK   FRA Didier Desprez 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 DF   SRB Aleksandar Radovanović 1 0 1 0 0 0
6 MF   FRA Manuel Perez 4 0 1+3 0 0 0
19 MF   SCO Charles Boli 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 FW   FRA Gaëtan Robail 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 FW   BFA Cyrille Bayala 0 0 0 0 0 0

Last updated: 13 February 2021
Source: Competitions

Goalscorers edit

As of 18 October 2020
Rank No. Pos Nat Name Ligue 1 Coupe de France Total
1 10 MF   Gaël Kakuta 4 0 4
27 FW   Ignatius Ganago 4 0 4
2 14 DF   Facundo Medina 1 0 1
7 FW   Florian Sotoca 1 0 1
Totals 10 0 10

References edit

  1. ^ "Saison 2020-2021" (in French). RC Lens Official Site. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. ^ "League Table". Ligue1.com. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Ligue 1 Uber Eats : le calendrier de la saison 2020/2021". LFP (in French). 9 July 2020.
  4. ^ "RC LENS / PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN POSTPONED TO 10 SEPTEMBER". Ligue1. 25 August 2020.
  5. ^ "RC Lens - FC Nantes postponed". ligue1.com. Ligue de Football Professionnel. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. ^ "OM-Lens postponed". ligue1.com. Ligue de Football Professionnel. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.

External links edit