Lyon and Lens Draw in Thrilling Coupe de France Quarterfinal, Lens Advance on Penalties
The Coupe de France quarterfinal between Lyon and Lens ended in a 2-2 draw after full time, with Lens ultimately prevailing 5-4 in a penalty shootout on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France. The match was a tightly contested affair, showcasing the talent of two of France’s top teams.
Rémi Himbert scored a late equalizer for Lens in the 90’+4 minute, while Roman Yaremchuk had position Lyon ahead in the 67th minute. Earlier in the match, Florian Thauvin gave Lens the lead in the 23rd minute, and Abdallah Sima extended their advantage with a goal in the 45’+1 minute.
The penalty shootout saw a dramatic finish, with Florian Thauvin converting the decisive penalty for Lens, securing their place in the next round of the competition. The final score from the shootout was 5-4 in favor of Lens.
Lineups and Key Stats
Lyon started with the following lineup: Descamps, Tagliafico, Niakhaté, Mata, Maitland-Niles, Abner, Morton, Nartey, Tolisso, Yaremchuk, and Endrick. Substitutions included Ghezzal, Mangala, Kamara, Tessmann, Greif, and Merah.
Lens took the field with: Descamps, Himbert, Niakhaté, Mata, Tagliafico, Abner, Morton, Nartey, Tolisso, Yaremchuk, and Endrick. Substitutions included Karabec, and Fofana.
Here’s a breakdown of the key match statistics:
- Possession: Lyon 58.9%, Lens 41.1%
- Shots on Goal: Lyon 4, Lens 4
- Shot Attempts: Lyon 14, Lens 12
- Yellow Cards: Lyon 1, Lens 3
- Corner Kicks: Lyon 6, Lens 7
- Saves: Lyon 2, Lens 2
Lens’s victory advances them to the next stage of the Coupe de France, continuing their pursuit of the title. This result will undoubtedly be a setback for Lyon, who were hoping for a strong cup run alongside their Ligue 1 campaign.
