PARIS (AP) — Lens will be hoping for a strong performance from club-record signing Elli Wahi against Ligue 1 title rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
The problem is that he is playing for another team.
Still, Lens fans will be hoping that Wahi can help strugglers Nice beat PSG on Saturday and help Lens in the title race. PSG, who are in the lead, have played one less match and are now one point behind Lens.
It’s a sign that Wahi, 23, is regaining the form that once made him one of Europe’s most promising young strikers and led to a transfer fee of nearly 90 million euros ($104 million).
Last weekend, he showed he has regained his instincts and confidence, scoring with a brilliant turn and lob from 40 meters against 15th-placed Nice in Angers.
Three years ago, Wahi scored 19 league goals and joined Reims from Montpellier for €35 million after turning down a move to Premier League side Chelsea. He was named Player of the Player in the Champions League match against Arsenal, but his form declined.
The following season, Lens sold him to Marseille for 25 million euros. Unable to settle in at Marseille, Wahi joined Eintracht Frankfurt on a five-and-a-half year contract after just 13 league games. The German club paid 26 million euros for Wahi, and in return he scored one goal in 25 games.
He joined Nice on loan from Eintracht in January and has scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games so far.
major matches
Lens need a morale-boosting home win against Angers on Friday. With a smaller squad than PSG, their key players looked exhausted from last weekend’s games. 2-1 loss At Lorient.
According to Opta statistics, Lens crossed the ball 58 times in the match, a record for European football this season, but none of them scored.
Despite Marseille’s lack of form, they still hold the card for automatic qualification to next season’s Champions League. Marseille is currently 3 under. Habib Beyer appointed as coach They will play a home game against 5th place Lille on Sunday.
But Marseille fans are still furious about something else Trophyless season And in the first half of last week’s 1-0 win against Auxerre, the club’s ultras did not encourage the players.
Meanwhile, Monaco’s comeback is bad news for Lyon, who face Lyon on Sunday. 6th place Monaco are aiming for their 6th consecutive league win, while 4th place Lyon are No wins in 4 games It was six consecutive wins in Ligue 1, and six consecutive wins in total.
Lyon are hoping to sign the 19-year-old Brazilian forward as Monaco would be one point behind Lyon in the race for Champions League qualification if they win. endrik You can regain your form after a lean spell.
Featured players
Nathan Mbala, female. The 18-year-old striker is the latest addition to the esteemed Metz youth hierarchy and has so far scored twice for rock-bottom Metz, who face Rennes on Sunday.
Hviča Kvaratschelia, PSG. Star Winger is peaking at the right time. After being suddenly dropped by coach Luis Enrique, he responded: 3 goals in 2 games Champions League match against Chelsea.
Activity suspended
Shortly after signing his first professional contract, 18-year-old Lyon forward Remi Himbert sprained his ankle during the Europa League with six weeks to go. He joins Lyon’s long injured list.
PSG forward Bradley Barcola will be out for several weeks after spraining his right ankle in midweek’s game against PSG. chelsea.
off the field
The match between Marseille and Lille, originally scheduled for Sunday night, will instead kick off in the afternoon due to safety concerns surrounding France’s local elections. The far-right candidate is tied with the incumbent socialist mayor ahead of Sunday’s second round of voting, and authorities fear the results expected in the evening could heighten tensions in the southern port city. However, Lille president Olivier Letang remained concerned about safety and wanted the match to be postponed to a later date.
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AP Sports Writer Samuel Petrekin contributed to this report.
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