Lens Announces Solidarity Friendly After PSG Match Postponement

French club RC Lens has announced it will play a friendly match against FC Rouen on April 11 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. This fixture is intended to compensate for the postponed Ligue 1 encounter against Paris Saint-Germain, which was originally scheduled 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. Lens stated that the objective is to "maintain the rhythm" to ensure the players' competitive continuity.

This decision follows the French Professional Football League's (LFP) ruling to postpone the Lens vs. PSG match to May 13. This postponement was granted in response to a request from Paris Saint-Germain, despite opposition from RC Lens.

Lens will face Rouen, who currently sit third in the French third division. This opponent provides a suitable technical challenge to help Lens maintain their match rhythm and avoid being affected by a prolonged absence from official fixtures.

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