Crystal Palace opened their 2026 Como Cup campaign against French side RC Lens on Tuesday at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Como, Italy. The Crystal Palace vs RC Lens clash marked the first Group A fixture of the unique pre-season tournament, with both clubs competing in a condensed 45-minute format designed to maximize playing time while managing player workloads.
The match also carried extra significance because it marked the first meeting between Crystal Palace and Lens since Pierre Sage took charge of the Eagles. The new Palace manager faced the club he guided to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and a Coupe de France triumph last season. Supporters also looked forward to the return of former Palace striker Odsonne Édouard, who lined up for Lens after completing a summer move.
Crystal Palace planned to carefully rotate their squad throughout the shortened contest, allowing recovering players and promising youngsters valuable minutes before immediately preparing for a second 45-minute match against Portuguese side Famalicão later in the evening. The Crystal Palace vs RC Lens encounter therefore served as an important early test as Palace continued building fitness and adapting to their new manager’s tactical ideas ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Crystal Palace vs RC Lens Team News
Pierre Sage used the special tournament format to carefully manage his squad. Recovering players including Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucouré were expected to receive controlled minutes as they continued their return to full fitness.
Several younger players were also given an opportunity to impress. Matheus França and David Ozoh were among the prospects expected to feature as Palace balanced experience with youth during the brief contest.
Lens, meanwhile, welcomed former Palace forward Odsonne Édouard, who faced his former club for the first time since his summer transfer.
Match Format and How to Watch
Unlike a traditional pre-season fixture, the Como Cup used a mini-tournament format with each match lasting only 45 minutes. The shortened contests allowed teams to rotate players while maintaining a competitive environment during pre-season preparations.
Immediately after this fixture, Crystal Palace were scheduled to face Portuguese club FC Famalicão in another 45-minute Group A match.
Fans around the world could watch the Crystal Palace vs RC Lens match live through Palace TV+, the club’s official streaming platform, as Crystal Palace began a busy evening of pre-season action in Italy.
Full-Time Update
Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 in their opening Como Cup group-stage match at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Under the tournament’s special 45-minute format, the match ended at the conclusion of the first half, with no second half played. No yellow or red cards were issued.
Key Match Moments
0′ Kickoff: The referee gets the Como Cup group-stage match underway.
3′ Corner – Lens: Borna Sosa concedes the game’s first corner.
4′ Goal – Lens 1-0 Crystal Palace: Odsonne Édouard scores against his former club from Florian Thauvin’s cross.
6′ Free Kick – Crystal Palace: Brennan Johnson wins a free kick in the defensive half.
6′ Chance – Lens: Édouard heads narrowly wide as he looks for a second goal.
11′ Free Kick – Crystal Palace: Charlie Walker-Smith wins a foul on the right wing.
12′ Chance – Crystal Palace: Rio Cardines fires over the crossbar from a difficult angle.
13′ Blocked Shot – Lens: Andrija Bulatovic’s long-range effort is blocked.
14′ Free Kick – Crystal Palace: Jaydee Canvot wins a foul in the attacking half.
15′ Save – Crystal Palace: Hervé Koffi denies Brennan Johnson after a through ball from Eddie Nketiah.
16′ Corner – Crystal Palace: Palace fail to capitalize on the resulting corner.
17′ Free Kick – Lens: Koffi is fouled inside his own penalty area.
17′ Save – Crystal Palace: Walter Benítez stops Florian Thauvin’s close-range effort.
18′ Free Kick – Lens: Ismaëlo Ganiou wins a foul in the defensive half.
20′ Goal – Lens 2-0 Crystal Palace: Édouard scores his second after a cross from Saud Abdulhamid.
23′ Goal – Lens 3-0 Crystal Palace: Andrija Bulatovic finishes from a short-corner routine.
23′ Corner – Lens: Jaydee Canvot concedes the corner that leads to the third goal.
24′ Drinks Break: Play pauses for the scheduled cooling break.
26′ Restart: The match resumes.
27′ Injury: Abdallah Sima suffers an injury, prompting a brief stoppage.
29′ Chance – Lens: Michaël Cuisance shoots wide from distance.
35′ Blocked Shot – Lens: Florian Thauvin’s effort is blocked.
35′ Corner – Lens: Tyrick Mitchell concedes another corner.
40′ Offside – Crystal Palace: Tyrick Mitchell is flagged offside.
42′ Offside – Lens: Thorgan Hazard is caught offside.
44′ Chance – Crystal Palace: Eddie Nketiah fires over the crossbar from inside the box.
45′ Full-Time: The referee blows the final whistle with Lens claiming a convincing 3-0 victory.
Crystal Palace vs RC Lens Results Today: Como Cup Live Score, Updates, Stats