On December 13, Lens secured the crucial point required to secure the third spot in their UEFA Champions League group, guaranteeing a place in the Europa League with an exhilarating 2-1 victory over Sevilla FC on Tuesday night.
The game started cautiously with opportunities emerging at both ends of the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, featuring impressive saves from Brice Samba and a shot from Sergio Ramos that struck the crossbar. The match took a thrilling turn when Przemyslaw Frankowski netted from the penalty spot after an extensive VAR review determined that Boubakary Soumaré had fouled Facundo Medina in the area in the 63rd minute.
Frankie secures Lens a spot in the Europa League knockout rounds with a goal against defending champion Sevilla 👏🏻 https://t.co/igYuJwQikD
— Alex Calabrese (@amcalabrese12) December 12, 2023
However, Sevilla swiftly earned a penalty themselves when Medina was judged to have pulled Youssef En-Nesyri’s arm amid protests. Ramos initially had his penalty saved, but he successfully converted the second attempt with a ‘Panenka’ style chip, following a retake mandated by the referee due to Samba encroaching off his line.
The game appeared set for a draw until the fifth minute of added time, when Angelo Fulgini seized on a defensive mistake and adeptly placed the ball into the lower corner, sparking joyous celebrations throughout the stadium.
This triumph guarantees Lens a third-place finish in Group B with nine points, earning them a spot in the Europa League. Conversely, Sevilla, enduring a lackluster season, will not partake in European competition.
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