Como Cup: Get to know RC Lens

First-team

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Crystal Palace will participate in the second edition of the Como Cup next month – let's take a closer look at our opponents, starting with RC Lens...

Tickets for the Como Cup are now available to purchase here. All of our three games will be live on Palace TV+.

Factfile

Manager: Dino Toppmöller
Position in 2025/26: 2nd in Ligue 1 (Runners-up)
Nickname: Les Sang et Or
Ground: Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Founded: 1906 (120 years ago)

What’s the story?

Under the guidance of new Palace Manager Pierre Sage, RC Lens enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in their history last season.

Now Sage faces an immediate reunion with his former side, when the Eagles open up the Como Cup against the French outfit in the first game of Group A.

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Some smart additions to the squad in the transfer market, combined with Sage's tactical nous saw Les Sang et Or (the Blood and Gold) finish second in the league last term – the third time they have finished as French runners-up in the 21st century.

After losing two of their first four games, a run of eight straight wins between November and January had them on the fringes of the title race.

Lens ultimately ended up just six points behind eventual league champions PSG, but the highlight of their campaign was to come in the Coupe de France.

A dramatic penalty shootout quarter-final win away in Marseille, set up a semi-final against Toulouse at home.

Lens produced one of their best performances of the season, with Florian Thauvin, Allan Saint-Maximin, Matthieu Udol and Adrien Thomasson all scoring in a dominant 4-1 win.

That booked a place in the Final against Nice in Paris. Former Palace man Odsonne Édouard was among the scorers as Lens were simply too good going forward, winning 3-1, to lift the Coupe de France trophy for the very first time.

With their second place in the league ensuring they qualified directly for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, Lens' campaign was perhaps only second to 1997/98 – when they won the French championship for the only time in their history to date.

With Sage heading to South London, Dino Toppmöller was appointed as his replacement earlier this month.

The German previously succeeded former Palace boss Oliver Glasner as head coach of Frankfurt in the summer of 2023. He subsequently led them to finishes of 6th, 3rd and 8th in the Bundesliga.

Toppmöller also managed to take Frankfurt to the last eight of the Europa League in 2024/25, only to narrowly lose to eventual winners Tottenham.

Boot in both camps

As mentioned, former forward Odsonne Édouard left South London last summer to join Lens and would prove a big success.

In his first season back in France's top-flight, the former PSG forward scored 14 goals in all competitions and contributed three assists in 34 appearances. Only France international Florian Thauvin scored as many (also 14) for Lens across the campaign.

Édouard moved to South London from Celtic in 2021, memorably scoring twice on his debut against Tottenham.

He would spend four years with Palace, making 105 appearances before returning to France. As well as PSG, Édouard had also spent time with Toulouse on loan.

From our current squad, Cheick Doucouré came through at Lens and spent four years with their senior side before joining Palace in 2022.

Doucouré made 115 league appearances for Lens, scoring six goals.

Other players to have spent time at both clubs include forward Loic Remy and midfielder John Bostock.

Match Details

Crystal Palace v RC Lens

Tuesday, 28th July
18:00 BST
Match length: 45 minutes
Live on Palace TV+
Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium

Remember that all of Palace's matches will also be streamed LIVE on Palace TV+.

Download the official Crystal Palace App for free now, and be notified when further details are announced.

Tourist Packages Information

What is the Como Cup?

The Como Cup is part of the Football on the Lake event – Como 1907’s summer football, culture and travel event, created to bring clubs, fans and visitors together in one of the most iconic destinations in the game.

Launched in 2025, the first edition brought Ajax, Celtic, Al Ahli and Como 1907 to Lake Como for the inaugural Como Cup, alongside a wider programme of music, city activations, hospitality and fan experiences.

In 2026, Football on the Lake will return for its second edition with an expanded Como Cup featuring six clubs from across Europe and the Middle East.

Tourism packages, which include tickets to matches, can be purchased here.

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