Thauvin faces Slavia Prague-Lens despite his injury

Racing Club de Lens travels this Thursday to the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague at 9 p.m., marking the return of Florian Thauvin, 33, to the Champions League despite an ongoing injury. The captain hopes to bring calm and experience to a young squad.

Former iconic striker of Olympique de Marseille, Thauvin won the 2018 World Cup with France. He has played thirty‑two European matches, all with OM, in the Champions League (C1) or the Europa League (C3).

Despite the injury that still follows him, Thauvin is determined to play. He said: “I take it with a lot of perspective and maturity,” emphasizing that his difficult experiences in Marseille help him approach European matches differently.

Thauvin’s role as leader

“I must bring calm to my teammates,” the captain affirmed at the press conference. He notes that RC Lens’s squad is quite young and unaccustomed to the Champions League. As one of the oldest players, he intends to draw on his thirty‑two European experiences to reassure the group.

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The club recently suffered two defeats in Ligue 1, at Strasbourg (1‑2) and at Lorient (0‑1). Thauvin believes that the start of the Champions League comes “at the right time” to revive the momentum.

Jean‑Claire Todibo, 26, is in the squad and could make his debut with RC Lens in the Czech Republic. The coach highlighted his quick adaptation and the experience he has gained at several foreign clubs.

A campaign without extravagant spending

Lens approaches this first matchday of the group stage without having made any financial extravagances. The club relies on Thauvin’s experience and the youth of the squad to try to qualify.

The match, which takes place this Thursday at 9 p.m., is RC Lens’s first encounter in this season’s Champions League. A solid performance could give the club its first chance to progress in the European competition.