In round 35 of the Ligue 1, Lens clinched their first-ever Champions League qualification spot by defeating Lille in a thrilling 3-1 victory at the Stade de Reims on Saturday night.
The match was billed as one of the most exciting in recent history for French football fans, and it certainly lived up to its billing. Lens had been playing well all season long, but they were unable to capitalize on their chances when they faced Lille's formidable defense.
However, the visitors showed their mettle early on, with Antoine Griezmann scoring his second goal of the season from a corner kick just before half-time. The scoreline remained 2-0 in favor of Lens until the final minutes of regulation time.
But that wasn't enough for the home side, who scored three more goals in stoppage time to seal the win and secure their place in the Champions League group stage.
It was a remarkable performance for both teams, and it was clear that Lens had what it took to get there. They will now have a chance to face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next week, and they will be looking to improve upon this impressive result.
Overall, it was a thrilling and entertaining match that saw both sides put in a good fight throughout. It will be interesting to see how the team performs in the Champions League once they return to the top flight next season.