Lens triumph 3-2 over Slavia Prague in a dramatic UEFA Champions League encounter.

The UEFA Champions League League Phase fixture took place on 10 September 2026 at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. Slavia Prague hosted French side Lens in a match that promised attacking intent from both sides, but it was ultimately decided by a straight red card and a late surge from the visitors.

How it unfolded

The first half was largely balanced until the 49th minute when Slavia Prague’s Mikulás Konecny was shown a straight red card, leaving the home side with ten men for the remainder of the game. The dismissal shifted the tactical balance, but Slavia responded immediately. Two minutes after going down to ten men, Danijel Sturm restored the lead for the hosts with a left-footed strike from outside the box that curled into the top left corner, the effort set up by Samuel Isife.

The game remained tense, and Lens’ Pierre Ganiou received a yellow card in the 62nd minute for a bad foul, marking the only booking of the match.

Lens pulled level in the 73rd minute when Abdallah Sima headed home from a corner, his right-footed shot finding the bottom right corner and making it 1-1.

Slavia reclaimed the advantage in the 88th minute as Danijel Sturm again found the net, this time with a right-footed shot from outside the area that slipped into the bottom left corner after a set-piece situation.

The final minutes saw Lens mount a swift comeback. In first-half injury time, Florian Thauvin headed home from the centre of the box, a finish assisted by Mezian Soares’s cross, to equalise at 2-2. Only moments later, in the third minute of added time, Ruben Aguilar struck from the right side of the box with his right foot, sending the ball to the bottom left corner and completing a 3-2 victory for Lens.

Standout performers

Danijel Sturm was the most influential player on the scoresheet, netting both of Slavia Prague’s goals, first assisted by Samuel Isife and later from a set-piece situation.

For Lens, Abdallah Sima, Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar each contributed crucial goals, with Thauvin’s header set up by Mezian Soares.

Match facts

  • Final score: Slavia Prague 2-3 Lens
  • Scorers: Danijel Sturm (Slavia Prague) 51’, 88’; Abdallah Sima (Lens) 73’; Florian Thauvin (Lens) 90'+1’ (assist: Mezian Soares); Ruben Aguilar (Lens) 90'+3’
  • Yellow cards: Pierre Ganiou (Lens) 62’
  • Sending-off: Mikulás Konecny (Slavia Prague) 49’ – straight red
  • Venue: Fortuna Arena, Prague

What it means

The 3-2 win gives Lens three points from the UEFA Champions League League Phase fixture, while Slavia Prague return home with a loss after playing most of the match a man down. The result will shape each club’s standing in the competition moving forward.