Lens Announces Solidarity Friendly After PSG Match Postponement

French club Lens has announced it will play a friendly match against FC Rouen on April 11 at Stade Bollaert. This fixture is scheduled to compensate for the postponed Ligue 1 encounter against Paris Saint-Germain, which was originally set for the same date. In an official statement, the club explained that the friendly aims to maintain the players' physical readiness during a two-week break from official competitions. The club stated its goal is to "maintain rhythm" to ensure competitive continuity among its squad.

This decision follows the French Professional Football League's (LFP) ruling to postpone the Lens-PSG match to May 13. The LFP's decision was made in response to a request from Paris Saint-Germain, despite opposition from Lens. The friendly will see Lens face Rouen, who currently sit third in France's third division (National 1). This match is expected to provide a suitable technical test, helping the team maintain its match rhythm and avoid the negative impact of a prolonged absence from official fixtures.

The upcoming friendly also carries a strong solidarity dimension, as the club's management has decided to allocate a portion of the match profits to the organization Reporters Without Borders. Furthermore, during the warm-up, Lens players will wear shirts calling for the release of sports journalist Christophe Glize. Glize, a French journalist, was arrested in Algeria in May 2024 and has remained in detention since June 29, 2025. This initiative aims to draw attention to his case, coinciding with the charitable activities surrounding the match.