Lens’ Champions League clash with Arsenal on Tuesday will see the French side come full circle in the season that marks their return to Europe’s elite club competition after two decades away.

The golden era for the Blood and Gold (“Les Sang et Or”) came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before a long stint in the doldrums and then a remarkable recent revival.

Lens were crowned French champions in 1998 for the only time in their history, an achievement which earned them a first crack at the Champions League.

In November that year, having already held the Arsenal of Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka and Marc Overmars at home, they travelled to London to play Arsene Wenger’s side at Wembley.

Read the full story on the Times of Malta sports website...

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