Slavia Prague v Lens

It is remarkable that this game hasn’t had a goal, considering how open it has been at times. Both sides have played expansively, happy to counter-attack and leave themselves open to being countered. The home side, 1.05 xG, have been the dominant force though, despite having just 38% of the ball. Sturm has been the driving force in midfield, leading the press and going close with two early chances before setting up Ayaosi in the 36th minute for what he thought was the opening goal. The Nigerian winger took a touch over a sliding defender inside the box to finish but a quick VAR check confirmed the ball had hit Ayaosi’s hand. Lens were lucky to survive that scare, having made a series of sloppy errors in midfield, exposing their high defensive line, and had done almost nothing going forwards, 0.12 xG, until Thauvin produced a piece of magic on the half-an-hour mark to find Bulatovic with the outside of his right boot. The Montenegran found Sima with a cutback but the striker could not sort his feet out to tap into an empty net. Lens did grow into the game as Slavia Prague’s press tired towards the end of the half, but the French side’s back-three system has looked vulnerable every time the hosts have found the channels, with Chytill putting in an exceptional, selfless shift up front.

HALF TIME: SLAVIA PRAGUE 0-0 LENS

Lens have scrapped their way back into this game over the last 15 minutes. They have now had as many shots on target as the hosts and begun to find similar spaces in the wide channels.

Right on cue! Thauvin forces Markovic into a save with a dipping effort from the edge of the area just after Skoras had broken through the midfield superbly and laid it wide for Ivanovic who couldn't make the most of the space he had found inside the box.

Although we are goalless, this has been a very watchable game of football. The home side have been exceptional from the first whistle both in and out of possession, while Lens have begun to show what they can do going forward over the last 10 minutes or so. Find Thauvin in the right areas and they will carry a threat.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Slavia Prague think they have their opener as Sturm does well down the left side and finds Ayaosi inside the area. The Nigerian bundles his first touch past a challenge and finishes smartly, thinking he has given his side the lead, but within 30 seconds the referee has cut celebrations short as VAR intervenes correctly. Replays show the winger’s touch had been up onto his hand before finishing. Lens survive a scare of their own.