Lens and PSV Eindhoven Draw 1-1

 Lens and PSV Eindhoven Draw 1-1

Lens' French forward #09 Elye Wahi celebrates after scoring a goal his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group B first leg football match between RC Lens and Arsenal FC at the Bollaert Stadium in Lens, northern France, on October 3, 2023(Image-Getty)

In a competitive clash, Lens forward Elye Wahi countered Johan Bakayoko's initial goal for PSV Eindhoven, securing a 1-1 draw at home in the Champions League Group B fixture on Tuesday.

Lens, known as the 2022-23 Ligue 1 runners-up, currently holds the second position in the group standings with five points accumulated from three games. Their position is just one point behind group leaders Arsenal, who secured a 2-1 victory against Sevilla in the concurrent group match.

PSV Eindhoven, aiming to recover after a challenging start to the season, remains at the bottom of the group with two points. Their earlier match saw a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home against the Spanish side, following a heavy 4-0 defeat in London on the opening night.

The match began cautiously, with limited action in the first half. PSV's winger, Hirving Lozano, came close to scoring, hitting the post from outside the box before the half-hour mark.

However, it was Belgium forward Bakayoko who broke the deadlock for PSV after the break, impressively finding the back of the net from a distance. Nevertheless, Lens fought back, with Wahi leveling the score for the hosts with a well-executed volley from close range in the 65th minute.

Despite their commendable efforts, Lens has yet to progress beyond the group stages in the Champions League. This marks their third appearance in the prestigious tournament, the first since the 2002-03 season, as they continue their quest to advance further in the competition.