Lens score twice in stoppage time to beat Slavia Praha 3-2

Lens came from behind to defeat Slavia Praha 3-2 at Fortuna Arena in Prague, earning victory in the opening UEFA Champions League league-stage round on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

Late turnaround decides five-goal match

The match changed direction shortly after half-time. Slavia Praha lost Mikulas Konecny to a red card in the 49th minute, but Danijel Sturm put the hosts ahead two minutes later, finishing a move assisted by Samuel Isife. Lens responded through Abdallah Sima in the 73rd minute, restoring balance before Sturm struck again in the 88th minute to give Slavia a 2-1 lead.

Lens produced a decisive response in the closing stages. Florian Thauvin equalised in the 90th minute with assistance from Mezian Soares Mesloub, and Ruben Aguilar then scored another late goal to complete the visitors’ 3-2 win. Aguilar had entered in the 62nd minute, while Lens also introduced Mesloub, Odsonne Édouard and Florian Sotoca during the second half.

Lens controlled the overall numbers

Although Slavia led twice and Sturm finished with two goals, Lens generally dictated the match. The visitors held 63% possession and completed 362 accurate passes from 441 attempts, compared with Slavia’s 187 accurate passes from 259. Lens also led total shots 26-17, shots on target 8-5 and corner kicks 9-6.

Those figures underline the contrast between the scoreline’s twists and the broader balance of play. Slavia created 11 shots inside the box and Lens had 14, while the hosts managed five shots on target despite spending long periods without the ball. Lens’ pressure eventually told in the final minutes, even after Slavia had regained the lead.

Discipline and individual impact

Konecny’s dismissal was the major disciplinary incident and left Slavia playing with 10 men for the final stages. Lens received one yellow card, shown to Ismaëlo Ganiou in the 62nd minute, while both teams committed eight fouls.

Thauvin was the highest-rated Lens player at 8.2, matching Sturm’s overall rating. He completed the match with one goal, three shots on target and four key passes, making his late equaliser particularly influential. Sturm was also central to Slavia’s threat, scoring twice and adding four key passes.

League-stage impact

The supplied standings listed Slavia Praha 18th and Lens 19th, with both teams on zero points from zero games before this completed fixture. Lens now takes the opening-round victory and three points, while Slavia begins its league-stage campaign with no points from the defeat. Updated rankings were not provided.