It has been a couple of years to forget for Racing Club de Lens, with a combination of off field problems and Ligue 2 mid table mediocrity. New manager Antoine Kombouare has had a fantastic start to the season however and aims to bring this successful, well-supported French club back to the top flight, where it undoubtedly belongs.

After 17 consecutive seasons in Ligue 1 from 1991 to 2008, Lens are now facing their 3rd successive season in the second tier of French football, their second longest spell in this division. This is a far cry from the past successes that this great club has known, with them being crowned French champions in the 97/98 season, with a front line of Anto Probjnak and cult hero Tony Vairelles frightening opposition defences. They won the league on goal difference that year, ironically edging out FC Metz, the team they will now fight against for promotion from ligue 2 this season. Lens also finished 4th more recently in the 05/06 season, earning them qualification into the UEFA Cup, and seeing them go on to lift the 2007 Intertoto Cup. They were then relegated two seasons later however, yet this time they bounced back immediately, winning the ligue 2 title and regaining their place in France’s top division. This success was short lived though, as after a mid-table finish came a season to forget for RC Lens, recording their lowest points tally in 22 years. Since then they have been unable to secure the promotion which the club and its fans so desperately want, finishing 12th in their last two seasons.

This season has a different feel about it however, as despite the off field difficulties that Racing Club de Lens have faced, Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov has invested money into the club, and after his appointment of new manager Antoine Kombouare he is hopeful of a more successful campaign. Kombouare has experienced relative success so far in his short management career, and he has credentials in this division, earning promotion to Ligue 1 with Valenciennes in 2006. He also took charge of his former club Paris Saint Germain in 2009, guiding them to a Coupe de France trophy, beating Monaco in the final, and also receiving praise for bringing an attractive, attacking style of football to the capital. After a year at Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal he makes his return to French football at Lens, where he is hoping to emulate the ligue 2 success he enjoyed at Valenciennes, and restore the pride of one of France’s best supported clubs.

So far this season RC Lens have shown signs of a revival, as they currently sit 3rd in the table 4 points behind leaders FC Metz, having only lost 2 league games all season. They also boast the best home record in Ligue 2, with 19 points from a possible 21 at Stade Felix Bollaert-Deleils. RC Lens are known for having incredible support and they have used the electrifying atmosphere that their fans generate to their advantage this year, making it a fortress. They are often described as having the best supporters in France, with their stadium consisting of 4 main groups of Ultras, the main one being the ‘KOP Lensois’. So far this season they have had by far the biggest crowds, with an average attendance of 28,517, over double the attendance of the league’s second highest capacity, which is Nancy-Lorraine with an average of 13,316. They have the 6th highest attendance in the whole of France, which is remarkable for a small town, whose total population could fit into their stadium, still leaving 4000 empty seats. This season they have even started a new ritual called “le clapping” which could well catch on, as after each victory one player leads the clapping and chants of the entire stadium, a very impressive sight.

Lens have performed excellently as a team so far this season, yet one of their stand out performers has been their talisman Pablo Chavaria who has contributed with 7 league goals, making him the league’s joint 2nd top scorer. Another key player for Kombouare’s men has been Adamo Coulibaly, who 4 months ago was unsure whether he would be kept on past his trial period at RC Lens. The Ivorian’s selection has been justified however, as he has played a crucial role in their great start to the season, using his physical presence to bully defences. His performances and work rate have not gone unnoticed by the Lens faithful, as he went off to a standing ovation last week. Their victory over SM Caen last weekend sent a message out to the rest of the league, as they were able to hold on to a 2-1 win despite playing over an hour with 10 men. Spurred on by 31,000 spectators, Lens showed great resilience and gave an indication of the heights they could reach this year. This fighting spirit was again displayed on Monday night when 2 very late goals from Benjamin Boulenger and Ahmed Kantari rescued a vital away point for Lens at Chamois Niortais, who also haven't lost a home game all season. 

RC Lens appear to be rejuvenated this season and are determined to achieve promotion back to the top division of French football. Their good run of form so far has shown that they are more than capable of finding a way out of this closely fought league, and their loyal supporters will do all they can to drive this team on to a successful campaign, and earn the promotion that this club deserves. 

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