Lens Snatch Dramatic UCL Win Over Slavia Praha With Late Blitz

Lens produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the UEFA Champions League season so far, overturning a deficit to claim a 3-2 victory over Slavia Praha on Thursday evening in a match that had everything — goals, a red card, a VAR review, and a heart-stopping late flurry that will be talked about for weeks.

Šturm Gives Slavia the Lead

Both sides lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation — Slavia Praha under coach J. Trpišovský and Lens under D. Toppmöller — setting the stage for a tactical battle. The first half was tight and physical, with Slavia Praha registering four shots off target and both teams picking up early fouls, but the scoresheet remained blank at halftime. The drama, however, was just around the corner.

Red Card Changes the Game

The second half erupted almost immediately. Slavia Praha had made a halftime substitution, bringing on Mikulas Konecny for David Zima, but that decision backfired spectacularly. In the 48th minute, a VAR review upgraded a challenge involving Konecny, and he was handed a red card in the 49th minute, leaving Slavia Praha down to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Slavia Praha refused to buckle. Danijel Šturm stepped up brilliantly in the 51st minute, converting with an assist from Samuel Isife to give the home side a 1-0 lead that stunned Lens.

Sima Pulls Lens Level

Lens responded with intent and wave after wave of pressure. Coach Toppmöller made a triple substitution in the 61st and 62nd minutes, bringing on Mezian Mesloub, Ruben Aguilar, and Odsonne Édouard to freshen up the attack. The move paid off when Abdallah Sima — minutes before his own substitution — found the net in the 73rd minute to level the tie at 1-1 and lift Lens back into the contest.

Stoppage-Time Masterclass Wins It for Lens

With the clock ticking down, Šturm struck again in the 88th minute to put Slavia Praha ahead 2-1 and send the home supporters into raptures. It looked as though ten-man Slavia Praha had pulled off a remarkable European result. But Lens had other ideas. Florian Thauvin, one of Europe's most experienced campaigners, drilled home a stunning equaliser in the 91st minute — assisted by substitute Mezian Mesloub — before Ruben Aguilar, also a substitute, completed the sensational turnaround in the 93rd minute to make it 3-2 and break Slavia Praha hearts.

Match Statistics

Slavia Praha registered four shots off target and two fouls, while Lens committed two fouls and picked up one yellow card — issued to Ismaëlo Ganiou in the 62nd minute. Both sides made five substitutions each. Slavia Praha also had one VAR review, which resulted in the red card for Konecny that proved pivotal to the outcome of the match.

What This Means

For Lens, this victory is a massive boost in the UEFA Champions League, demonstrating their quality and fighting spirit to recover twice from a deficit — and ultimately win from the bench. For Slavia Praha, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow; they showed tremendous character playing with ten men but were undone in the dying moments. The result firmly establishes Lens as serious contenders in this European campaign.