Rafael Nogueira
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RC Lens host Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League, and these predicted lineups look ahead to a selection puzzle shaped largely by who is missing rather than who is in form. Ahead of kickoff on Tuesday 13 October 2026, RC Lens are working with six confirmed absentees across defence, midfield and attack, while Sporting CP travel with just one confirmed absence, leaving Rui Borges with far fewer selection headaches than his counterpart. Both projected XIs below are built from recent starting patterns rather than any official announcement.
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RC Lens Predicted XI
RC Lens are projected to set up in a 3-4-2-1, the shape preferred by coach Yannick Cahuzac. This is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match, suggesting little appetite for wholesale changes before a continental fixture. Goalkeeper Robin Risser has started all three matches used for this projection and looks the most certain name in the side, while further forward Amadou Haidara has just one start in that span and did not feature in the last match, making his midfield slot look the least secure in the XI.
RC Lens predicted XI: Robin Risser; Matthieu Udol, Kyllian Antonio, Jonathan Gradit; Ruben Aguilar, Florian Thauvin, Michaël Cuisance, Florian Sotoca, Yassine Titraoui, Amadou Haidara; Odsonne Édouard
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 40 | Robin Risser | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 14 | Matthieu Udol | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 32 | Kyllian Antonio | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 24 | Jonathan Gradit | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 2 | Ruben Aguilar | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Florian Thauvin | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 27 | Michaël Cuisance | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 7 | Florian Sotoca | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 8 | Yassine Titraoui | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 21 | Amadou Haidara | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 11 | Odsonne Édouard | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Predicted Sporting CP Line-up
Sporting CP are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, the formation Rui Borges tends to favour. The side is largely settled, with 8 of the projected XI starting their last match, though there is a touch more rotation here than at Lens. Goalkeeper Rui Silva has started all three matches used for this projection and anchors the back line, while Rodrigo Zalazar, with just one start in that span and no appearance in the last match, represents the more uncertain attacking midfield pick.
Sporting CP predicted XI: Rui Silva; Iván Fresneda, Gonçalo Inácio, Maximiliano Araujo, Zeno Debast; Sergi Altimira, Geny Catamo, Issa Doumbia, Silas Andersen, Rodrigo Zalazar; Nestory Irankunda
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Rui Silva | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 22 | Iván Fresneda | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 25 | Gonçalo Inácio | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 20 | Maximiliano Araujo | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 6 | Zeno Debast | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 5 | Sergi Altimira | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Geny Catamo | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 77 | Issa Doumbia | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 4 | Silas Andersen | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 17 | Rodrigo Zalazar | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 19 | Nestory Irankunda | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Team News and Confirmed Absentees
Jhoanner Chávez, Maik Nawrocki and Abdallah Sima are out injured, while Ilan Jourdren, Thorgan Hazard and Jean-Clair Todibo are unavailable through suspension, a list that hits the Lens defence particularly hard with three centre-back options missing. Of the players left out of the projected XI, Ismaëlo Ganiou is among those with a start in the last three matches used here and looks as well placed as any squad option to step in if changes are needed.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilan Jourdren | G | suspended | Off the roster |
| Jhoanner Chávez | D | injured | Thigh problems |
| Thorgan Hazard | M | suspended | Inactive |
| Jean-Clair Todibo | D | suspended | Inactive |
| Maik Nawrocki | D | injured | Jumpers knee |
| Abdallah Sima | F | injured | Muscle bruise |
Nuno Santos is out injured, a single absence that lightly thins Sporting CP’s defensive options without disrupting the rest of the squad. Luis Suárez, with two starts in the matches used for this projection, stands out among the bench options as the player best placed to come into the side.
| Player | Pos | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuno Santos | D | injured | Muscle bruise |
Where These Predictions Come From
Each predicted lineup here is built from the last three available line-ups for that club, with more recent matches weighted more heavily than older ones when judging who is likely to start. Players confirmed as injured or suspended have been removed from contention entirely. This is a projection, not a confirmed team sheet, and it can change once the official line-ups are named closer to kickoff.
Read also: Lens vs Sporting CP Prediction: 13.10.2026 UEFA Champions League Preview
Read also: RC Lens vs Sporting CP Head-to-Head: Record, Stats and Form as of 11 Oct 2026
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for RC Lens and Sporting CP?
Robin Risser is projected in goal for RC Lens and Rui Silva for Sporting CP, with both having started all three matches used in this projection.
What formation are RC Lens and Sporting CP expected to use?
RC Lens are projected in a 3-4-2-1, the shape preferred by coach Yannick Cahuzac, while Sporting CP are expected in a 4-2-3-1 under Rui Borges.
Who is unavailable for RC Lens and Sporting CP for this match?
RC Lens are without Jhoanner Chávez, Maik Nawrocki and Abdallah Sima through injury, plus Ilan Jourdren, Thorgan Hazard and Jean-Clair Todibo through suspension. Sporting CP are missing only Nuno Santos, who is out injured.
When do RC Lens and Sporting CP play this predicted lineups match?
The RC Lens vs Sporting CP fixture, covered here with predicted lineups and team news, kicks off on Tuesday 13 October 2026.