Lens v Sporting
Play By Play
A goal in each half saw Sporting CP maintain their 100% start to the Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Lens at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. While the hosts enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and narrowly edged the expected goals battle 1.70 to 1.67, they were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal. Sporting struck first when Suarez darted across his marker to turn home Irankunda's teasing cross, a goal that saw the Colombian become the club's outright leading goalscorer in the competition. Ivanovic, Haidara and substitute Edouard all went close to restoring parity for Lens, but as the game became increasingly stretched, Sporting delivered the decisive blow. Andersen's perfectly weighted through ball released Doumbia in behind, and the Italian kept his composure to poke beyond the advancing Risser and effectively seal the points. Thauvin threatened to spark a late revival with a fierce effort that whistled narrowly past the post, but Cahuzac's side couldn't find a way back and remain on three points ahead of their Ligue 1 meeting with Troyes. As for Sporting, Borges' side move to the top of the league phase standings with maximum points from their opening two matches and will look to continue their impressive European form when they face LASK next. That's all from us here – thank you for joining, and goodbye!
FULL-TIME: LENS 0-2 SPORTING CP
We're into just three minutes of added time at the end of this one.
Lens show some real sloppiness at the worst possible time as they're flagged offside in the final third, with the game now drifting towards an anticlimactic conclusion.
While this one looks destined to end in defeat for the hosts, if there's one side capable of staging a late comeback, it's Lens. The French outfit will remember their dramatic stoppage-time turnaround against Slavia Prague last month, and they'll believe there's still time to produce another memorable finish here.
Another of Sporting's goalscorers departs as Doumbia makes way for Lima.
Suarez leaves the field with his name in the history books, having become Sporting's outright leading goalscorer in the Champions League. Ioannidis is introduced in his place.
Guilherme looks to burst down the right-hand side with a third goal on the horizon, but the Brazilian is a little too eager. His touch gets away from him as he tries to accelerate, and the ball rolls harmlessly out of play, bringing a promising Sporting attack to a premature end.
WIDE! That was struck with real venom. Thauvin finds himself in space on the edge of the area, something Sporting have afforded Lens far too often this evening, but the hosts' captain can't find the target. He lets fly with his favoured left foot, and his fierce effort whistles just wide of the right-hand post.
Thauvin goes into the book, and it's a needless caution for the Lens captain. Frustration has clearly got the better of him, and after the whistle goes he lashes the ball away, only to strike a ball boy flush in the face behind the advertising hoardings.
Haidara tested Kaique on a couple of occasions, but he'll play no further part this evening as Titraoui is introduced in his place.
Sporting look all but set to begin a Champions League campaign with back-to-back victories for only the second time in their history. It's been a thoroughly professional performance from the Portuguese side, who have weathered Lens' pressure before ruthlessly punishing them on the counter-attack.
Take no credit away from Andersen, either. The substitute threads a magnificent pass through to Doumbia just moments after coming off the bench to set up Sporting's second.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!! DOUMBIA MAKES IT 2-0! Sporting have executed their game plan to perfection, and they now have the priceless second goal to show for it. Doumbia is slipped in behind for the second time in quick succession, and Risser elects to surge off his line in an attempt to get there first. However, the Italian is just too quick, poking the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper and into an empty net to surely wrap up the points for the Portuguese outfit.
Simoes also makes way, as Andersen enters the fray.
Irankunda is replaced by Derry.
SO CLOSE! Doumbia is picked out by a ball over the top, and there'll have been plenty of hearts in mouths among the Lens faithful. The Italian brings it down brilliantly as his marker Ganiou goes flying past him, but the French defender recovers superbly to get back and do just enough to steer the danger away, earning his side a goal-kick in the process.
Cuisance becomes the first player booked this evening after bringing down the fresh-legged Guilherme.
Mesloub created four chances from open play on his Champions League debut against Slavia Prague on MD1, the most of any player to feature for fewer than 45 minutes across the opening round of fixtures. The 16-year-old has already shown he can make an impact at this level, and Lens will be hoping the Portuguese talent can provide the spark they've been desperately craving.
Another change for the hosts sees 16-year-old Mesloub introduced in place of Kadile.
Abdulhamid has been lively for Lens up and down that right-hand side, but his evening is now over as Skoras comes on.
Borges makes his first change of the evening as Catamo makes way for Guilherme.
Abdulhamid is slipped in down the right, and the wing-back's first instinct is to whip a dangerous ball across that corridor of uncertainty between goalkeeper and defenders. He delivers it brilliantly, but the Lens forwards are caught on their heels and unable to apply the finishing touch, allowing Fresneda to sweep behind for a corner.
END-TO-END! Lens go straight up the other end and show no signs of abandoning their aggressive approach. It's the substitute Edouard who finds himself with the chance as the ball breaks kindly inside the area, but he can't generate any real power on the effort as it trickles through to the grateful Kaique, who gathers far too comfortably.
SAVED! Sporting break with real intent from the resulting corner, and Simoes suddenly finds himself with no Lens shirt within five yards of him. The Portuguese midfielder takes a touch to open up the angle before unleashing a low effort, but Risser stands firm and produces a smart save with his legs to keep the hosts in the contest.
