Former Lens Coach Pierre Sage Loses 3-0 to Lens in Como Friendly
In a 45-minute pre-season friendly at the Como Cup in Italy, RC Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0, handing former Lens coach Pierre Sage a heavy defeat. Odsonne Édouard scored twice, with Andrija Bulatovic adding a third. Sage, who left Lens a month earlier, praised his former team’s strength and noted most of his players were reserves or U21s. Lens used the match to prepare for the Trophée des Champions.
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Pierre Sage Recounts Exchange with Dino Toppmöller After Lens Defeat
Despite Crystal Palace's heavy 3-0 defeat to RC Lens in a 45-minute friendly match in Como, coach Pierre Sage focused on the emotional reunion with his former club. Sage, who previously coached Lens, spoke with his successor Dino Toppmöller before the match, giving a very positive assessment of the Lens squad. In an interview with L'Équipe, Sage stated he told Toppmöller that Lens has a great team, a good club, and an easy group to coach, with players who are 100% committed every day. Sage also sent a message to Lens supporters, expressing happiness at being back in front of a crowd that left him with good memories, and emphasized that the most important thing was to leave a legacy and positive emotions.
Pierre Sage Reflects on Heavy Friendly Defeat to RC Lens, Praises Former Team
In a friendly match in Como, Crystal Palace coach Pierre Sage faced his former club RC Lens, losing 3-0 in 45 minutes. Despite the defeat, Sage remained positive, praising Lens' collective strength and maturity. He attributed the gap to squad quality rather than fitness, noting that most of his players were reserves or U21s, with 13 contracted players absent due to World Cup or injury. Sage expressed a desire to play Lens again at season's end to measure progress. He also discussed his emotional reunion with Lens players and staff, including successor Dino Toppmöller, and thanked club president Joseph Oughourlian for his support. Sage confirmed only 3-4 signings are expected for Crystal Palace, with no current recruits from Lens.
Lens Crushes Crystal Palace 3-0 in 45-Minute Friendly Reunion with Pierre Sage
RC Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 in a 45-minute friendly match on July 28, 2026, in Como, Italy, as part of the Como Cup preseason tournament. The match marked a reunion with Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace's new coach and former Lens manager. Lens dominated early, with Odsonne Edouard scoring twice in the first half (4th and 21st minutes), assisted by Florian Thauvin and Saud Abdulhamid respectively. Andrija Bulatovic added a third goal in the 21st minute from a poorly cleared corner. Lens, preparing for the Trophée des Champions against PSG on August 16, showed strong form with Thauvin and Edouard in fine shape. Crystal Palace, coached by Sage, struggled to respond. The match was shortened to 45 minutes as part of the tournament format.
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RC Lens Dominates Crystal Palace 3-0 in 45-Minute Friendly Match
In a 45-minute friendly match at the Como tournament, RC Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0, handing former Lens coach Pierre Sage a heavy defeat. Odsonne Édouard scored a brace, first with a sliding finish from a Florian Thauvin cross in the 4th minute, then with a right-footed volley in the 21st minute. Andrija Bulatovic added a third goal with a curling shot from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute. Lens showed strong defensive organization, with key interventions from Ismaëlo Ganiou and a save by Hervé Koffi. The match was a reunion for Sage, who had led Lens to the Coupe de France title in May. Lens will play another 45-minute match later that evening against Famalicão.
Lens Thrashes Pierre Sage's Crystal Palace 3-0 in 45-Minute Friendly
In a pre-season friendly held in Como, Italy, RC Lens defeated Crystal Palace 3-0 in a match that lasted only 45 minutes, as agreed by both teams. The match was notable because Crystal Palace is now managed by Pierre Sage, who left Lens just a month and a half earlier. Odsonne Édouard scored a brace (4th and 20th minutes), and Bulatovic added a third goal in the 24th minute for Lens, coached by Dino Toppmöller. This was Lens' first pre-season win after a 2-2 draw against Charleroi. For Sage, it was a second defeat in three matches since taking over at Crystal Palace. Lens was scheduled to play another half against Famalicao later that evening.
Pierre Sage to Face Former Club RC Lens in Como Cup Reunion
Former RC Lens coach Pierre Sage, who recently transferred to Crystal Palace, will reunite with his former team this Tuesday evening in Como, Italy, during a pre-season tournament. The article notes that Sage had previously been involved in planning Lens' logistics for the Como Cup, including selecting a hotel in Monza. The reunion is expected to be friendly with more smiles than tension. The piece also includes a reader comment reminiscing about a similar good-natured tournament in Villeneuve d'Ascq before the era of ultras.
Reunion Between Lens and Former Coach Pierre Sage, Now at Crystal Palace
Pierre Sage, who left RC Lens for Crystal Palace last month, will face his former team in a friendly match in Como, Italy, on Tuesday evening at 7 PM. The article notes that Sage had previously been involved in planning Lens's pre-season logistics, including choosing a hotel in Monza for the team. The reunion is expected to be cordial, with more smiles than tension. The match is part of the Como Cup, a pre-season tournament. The article highlights the emotional and professional connection between Sage and the Lens squad, emphasizing the positive atmosphere surrounding the encounter.