Lens vs Charleroi

Charleroi struck first through Parfait Guiagon from the penalty spot in the 7th minute, but Lens responded within three minutes. Florian Thauvin whipped in a corner and Abdalla Sima powered a header past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.

Toppmöller made 10 changes at half-time — only Nawrocki remained on the pitch — and the reshuffle nearly paid off immediately. Rayan Fofana won a penalty early in the second half and Thorgan Hazard, facing his former club, smashed the spot-kick under the bar to put Lens 2-1 up in the 49th minute.

But the lead lasted only seven minutes. Guiagon turned provider with a threaded through ball and Jesper Romsaas slotted a composed finish past Mathieu Gorgelin to restore parity at 2-2, the final score.

Lens had momentum after Hazard's penalty and looked the likelier side to push on. But the collective half-time overhaul — 10 substitutions in one block — disrupted the defensive cohesion just as Charleroi began to find spaces. Romsaas's equaliser arrived far too quickly after the restart for Toppmöller's liking, and Lens never regained the initiative.

A second-half cooling break further stalled Lens's rhythm, and Charleroi enjoyed their best spell between the 66th and 80th minutes, pinning the hosts back.

• Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi) — Player of the Match: Scored a first-half penalty and provided the assist for Romsaas's equaliser. Involved in both of his side's goals and a constant threat on the counter.
• Thorgan Hazard (Lens): A composed penalty on his return to the club where he began his senior career. Linked play well after coming on at half-time.
• Abdalla Sima (Lens): Took his headed chance clinically from Thauvin's corner. A physical presence in the box during the first half.
• Samson Baidoo (Lens): A concerning note — the Austrian defender, introduced at half-time, appeared to suffer a left thigh injury in the 86th minute and was treated by medical staff. Foot Mercato reported the injury as a muscle concern.

Lens dominated possession and territory, particularly in the first half, but the scoreline reflects a fair contest. Both sides scored from a penalty, and both created clear chances from open play. Lens's statistical edge in shots and corners (implied by the match narrative) did not translate into a winning margin — a familiar pattern in early pre-season when fitness and sharpness are still building. Charleroi's two-goal xG contribution from Guiagon alone highlights his importance to their attack.

For Lens, this was their second pre-season outing after a 4-1 win over Boulogne-sur-Mer on 18 July. Toppmöller has now used two entirely different XIs across the two friendlies, rotating heavily at half-time on both occasions. The next big test is the Trophée des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Bollaert on 16 August — a fixture that will demand sharper defensive organisation than Lens showed here.

Lens also have a trip to Italy for the Como Cup scheduled before the PSG clash, giving the squad further minutes.

For Charleroi, the draw was part of a productive day: they also beat another opponent in a separate friendly later on Saturday, according to Belgian outlet Le Soir. The Zebras showed good counter-attacking structure and will take confidence from competing with a Ligue 1 side on their own turf.

A typical pre-season friendly — open, high-energy, and short on defensive solidity. Lens will be encouraged by the attacking fluidity (Thauvin-Sima link, Hazard's sharpness) but concerned by the ease with which Charleroi cut through them after half-time. The Baidoo injury is an unwelcome complication. For Toppmöller, the clock is ticking toward the PSG showdown with clear areas still to address.