Lens welcomed Italian club Como on Wednesday night for the Champions League Group 4 match, offering fans a taste of Serie A flair. Supporters savoured the occasion, aware it would be their last away trip before bans hit the November Leipzig clash and the January Anfield showdown, penalties stemming from the smoke‑bomb flare‑up in Bruges on 21 October.
After the Bruges flare‑bomb episode, UEFA slapped Lens with an €80,000 fine and barred its fans from traveling to Leipzig and Liverpool, crushing many hopes of soaking up Anfield’s vibe. The club also faces a two‑year probation period with zero tolerance for further breaches, prompting a travel ban for supporters at the recent Lille derby.
Although not deemed high‑risk, the Lens‑Marseille tie will be closely monitored on Sunday. Will Lens keep the peace and advance to the knockout stage?
The Como match unfolded under a calm vibe, though players still needed to bounce back from a 1‑0 loss at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium. Fans showed a muted apology, mindful of the heavy sanctions. While the Pas‑de‑Calais prefecture did not label the game high‑risk, specialised police remained as vigilant as for any Champions League fixture, and the DNLH kept a close eye on supporter groups after Bruges. Authorities are also watching Marseille’s Sunday night clash, expecting a large southern fan contingent.
Tomorrow night, 372 Italian fans will fill Bollaert, displaying tifos reminiscent of those against Sporting Portugal. Club officials and supporters aim to move past the scandal and push for a Champions League knockout spot. Racing have suffered defeats to Sporting (0‑2) and Bruges (3‑0) but showed promise in a 2‑3 loss to Slavia Prague. For my money, the Italian fan presence could spark the energy Lens needs.