Lens got promoted to Ligue 1 after their successful 2019/20 season and surprised everyone with their consistency and solid displays that led to finishing seventh in their first season back in the elite.
The team have been moving around the top half of the table this campaign too, performing well in attack, with only their defensive vulnerabilities leading to dropping points. Currently they still have the chance of playing in the European competitions, being four points away from the Europa League group stage spot.
One of the players that helps them remain consistent and supports both their attacking and defensive actions is Jonathan Clauss. The right wing-back is crucial for the team in each phase, progressing the ball, creating chances in the final third but also providing additional security off the ball.
Clauss is currently the leading creator in the league with seven assists, which have helped a few of his teammates find the net. The 29-year-old’s qualities and judgement of the game make him the best performer for Lens as he achieves balance in his performance and manages to split his responsibilities well. While he contributes to ball progression, he also constantly looks to set his teammates up in front of the goal and support their movement.
In this scout report in the form of tactical analysis, we explain how he fits Lens’ tactics and what makes him crucial in every phase.
Lens’ main traits and formations
The manager Franck Haise sticks to a back three formations, switching between 3-4-1-2, 3-4-2 and 3-4-2-1. The wing-backs are crucial in his strategy as he requires playing with width and attacking down the wings.
The regular starters in the wing-back positions Clauss (right) and Przemyslaw Frankowski (left) have many attacking responsibilities and move deep in the opposition half. While Clauss provides more balls to the central areas through his crossing, Frankowski is the one who provides an additional direct threat by cutting inside.
The team usually focus on creating many scoring chances from each opportunity they get. They try to expose the opposition through crossing, through smart passes but also take on long shot opportunities. They have scored 33 goals so far, which is the third-best record in the league, after PSG (39) and Rennes (34). The team’s shot frequency is higher than the average in Ligue 1 as they focus their efforts on attacking.
With their back-three formation in possession, they try to commit more players in the opposition half and control the game there. Although they usually keep a very narrow shape and limit the spaces between the lines with the attacking players often playing almost on the same line with the midfielders.
Lens also aim to expose their opponents on a counter, thanks to their ball recovery efforts. The team create 3.5 counter-attacks on average per 90 and many of them result in shooting, although they have only scored once from these situations.
Clauss’ importance in the build-up
As mentioned, the wing-back role at Lens has many responsibilities. That’s why the team rely on Clauss in many aspects of the game. From creating short pass combinations and progressing the ball through link-up-play to him advancing the ball on his own. His 2.13 progressive runs on average help him in delivering the ball to the final third and creating chances for his teammates.
In this case, he received the ball on the flank and carried it to the edge of the box dribbling past his marker. He then sent a short smart pass to his teammate who moved in a better position to continue the attack.His ability to hold on to the ball is crucial in retaining possession and reaching the final third, where Lens have committed many bodies in efforts to stretch defences and expose the opposition. While Clauss’ pass completion rate isn’t high enough (73.4%), he still manages to orchestrate the play even from his wide position and helps the team break through the oppositions’ pressing structures.
