Lens face Champions League's second-toughest schedule

Lens will begin their return to the Champions League with the competition’s second-most difficult schedule, according to the Opta Power Rankings. The assessment places a major early demand on the French club as it prepares to face eight different opponents in the league phase.

Lens’ opponents carry an average Opta rating of 92.1. Only Sabah has a tougher programme among the 36 clubs in the competition, while Slavia Prague ranks third. The schedule includes home matches against Manchester City and Sporting Portugal, as well as an away visit to Liverpool’s Anfield. Club Bruges, Bodø/Glimt, RB Leipzig, Como and Slavia Prague complete the fixture list.

The draw gives Lens two meetings with English opposition it has never faced before. Manchester City will travel to Lens, while the French side will visit Liverpool. Club president Joseph Oughourlian has described those matches as especially significant, and sporting director Jean-Louis Leca has set an ambition of collecting as many points as possible without placing a firm limit on the team.

Leca has also pointed to Bodø/Glimt’s run last season as an example for Lens to follow. The Norwegian club is among the opponents Lens will face in this league phase, adding a direct reference point to an already demanding European campaign.