MATCH SUMMARY
What happened
Crystal Palace began their Como Cup campaign with a 3-0 loss to Lens at Como’s Giuseppe Sinigaglia, despite creating several promising openings in the first of two 45-minute Group A fixtures. Pierre Sage fielded a strong starting side against his former club, with Cheick Doucouré making his first pre-season start.
Palace fell behind after only four minutes when Florian Thauvin’s delivery was turned in by former Eagles forward Odsonne Edouard. The response was encouraging, with Palace enjoying a sustained spell of possession and producing a series of chances through Rio Cardines, Eddie Nketiah, Brennan Johnson and Charlie Walker-Smith.
Lens, however, made more of their opportunities. Edouard added a second with a volley after finding space inside the area, before Andrija Bulatovic produced an excellent finish from 25 yards to make it 3-0. Walter Benítez had earlier denied Thauvin at close range, but Palace were unable to prevent Lens from taking firm control of the scoreline.
Palace continued to build promising attacks after the hydration break, although their final actions lacked the sharpness required to turn pressure into a goal. Nketiah’s effort from distance was their closest late attempt, leaving the Eagles needing a swift response in their upcoming meeting with FC Famalicão.
KEY MOMENTS
The turning points
Lens struck in the fourth minute when Thauvin’s ball across the face of goal was met by Edouard, putting Palace behind before they had settled.
Palace threatened soon afterwards. Cardines fired over from a tight angle, while Nketiah created space before Ganiou made a well-timed challenge to prevent a likely shooting opportunity. Nketiah then released Johnson, whose effort was pushed over by Hervé Koffi, with Walker-Smith heading wide from the resulting corner.
Benítez kept Palace within reach by making a close-range save from Thauvin, but Lens doubled their advantage when Edouard volleyed home on 20 minutes. Bulatovic then extended the lead with a curling strike into the top corner from 25 yards.
Palace fashioned further promising moves after the hydration break, but Nketiah’s long-range effort, which went over the bar, was their nearest subsequent attempt at reducing the deficit.
TACTICAL RADAR
How the game was won
Palace showed a willingness to move the ball across the pitch, with their first recorded attack sweeping from left to right before Cardines shot over. The Eagles also combined effectively in forward areas, as Johnson’s run set up Nketiah and Nketiah’s turn sent Johnson through on goal.
The attacking structure generated opportunities, but Lens’ defensive interventions and Koffi’s save prevented Palace from converting that pressure. At the other end, Palace were punished by the speed and quality of Lens’ finishing, while Edouard was given too much room for the second goal. The performance therefore offered evidence of useful attacking patterns, but also highlighted the need for greater defensive concentration and more precise final actions.
STANDOUT PLAYERS
Who impressed
Eddie Nketiah was involved in several of Palace’s most dangerous moments, combining with Johnson, spinning away from his marker to create an opening and later testing Lens from distance. Brennan Johnson also made a notable contribution with a driving run and a well-timed advance into the area.
Walter Benítez produced an important close-range stop from Thauvin, while Rio Cardines and Charlie Walker-Smith both reached shooting positions during Palace’s early spell of pressure. Doucouré’s first pre-season start was also a notable selection detail, although the supplied report does not provide enough evidence to assess his individual performance.
THE POSITIVES
What Palace did well
Palace responded positively after conceding early, enjoying a period of control and creating multiple chances in quick succession. The combinations involving Nketiah and Johnson were particularly encouraging, while Cardines and Walker-Smith also contributed to the early pressure.
The Eagles continued to produce promising moves after the break rather than allowing the contest to fade completely. Benítez’s save from Thauvin was another individual positive in a difficult result.
RADAR CHECK
What needs improving
Palace need to be more alert inside their own penalty area, having allowed Edouard the space to score the second goal and conceding again from Bulatovic’s outstanding long-range finish. They also need greater precision and sharpness in front of goal: several promising attacks ended without a finish, and the clearest later effort from Nketiah went over the bar.
The quick turnaround before the Famalicão fixture gives Palace an immediate opportunity to turn their encouraging chance creation into more effective finishing while reducing the spaces Lens exploited.
Crystal Palace
Lens