RC Lens host Sporting CP in first-ever Champions League meeting

RC Lens welcome Sporting CP to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, in the second round of the Champions League. Kick-off is at 16:45 GMT (18:45 CET).

The match brings together two sides who began their European campaigns with victories. It will also be the first official meeting between RC Lens and Sporting CP, despite both clubs’ extensive experience in European competition.

Match details and broadcasters

Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 Kick-off: 16:45 GMT Venue: Stade Bollaert-Delelis

The match will be broadcast by TNT Sports in the United Kingdom and Canal+ in France. Coverage is also available through DPG Media, RTL Belgium, Proximus and Telenet in Belgium; DAZN and Amazon Prime in Germany; Telefonica in Spain; Sky and Amazon Prime in Italy; and Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands.

In Portugal, the broadcasters are Sport TV, DAZN and LiveMode. SuperSport, Canal+ and New World TV will show the game in sub-Saharan Africa, while beIN Sports holds coverage in the Middle East and North Africa.

Viewers in the United States can watch on Paramount+ and ViX, while ESPN is the broadcaster in Central America.

No previous competitive meetings

The fixture is an entirely new one in European football. RC Lens and Sporting CP have never faced each other in an official match.

Their paths have not crossed in the Champions League, the Europa League or the former Cup Winners’ Cup. Tuesday’s game will therefore mark the first competitive encounter between Lens, commonly known as the Sang et Or, and the Leoes of Lisbon.

Both teams chasing a second win

RC Lens made an ideal start to their Champions League campaign by beating Slavia Prague 3-2 away from home on the opening matchday. That result gives the French side confidence as they prepare to play in front of their home supporters at Bollaert.

Sporting CP also opened with a convincing victory, defeating Galatasaray 3-1. The result underlined the Portuguese club’s strong form before their trip to Lens.

Prediction

The match is expected to be a closely contested and cautious encounter, with neither side keen to surrender the momentum gained from winning their opening fixture.

Lens are likely to try to control the game with the backing of the Stade Bollaert-Delelis crowd. Sporting CP, however, showed against Galatasaray that they can be highly effective when attacking in transition.

The two teams appear evenly matched, making a draw the most likely outcome, although it would not fully satisfy either side.

Africafoot prediction: RC Lens 1-1 Sporting CP

For the match, 1xBet lists RC Lens at 2.62 to win, the draw at 3.85 and Sporting CP at 2.67.