Samson Baidoo Emerges as the New Fan Favorite at Bollaert Stadium

In a thrilling atmosphere at Bollaert, RC Lens secured an impressive 2-1 victory over Olympique de Marseille. The win was achieved through determination, commitment, and teamwork. After falling behind to a stunning strike from Mason Greenwood just 15 minutes in, the Sang et Or initially struggled but turned the game around with a penalty from Odsonne Édouard and an own goal from Benjamin Pavard. Key to this turnaround was the strong defensive performance from Lens, particularly from one player: Samson Baidoo. The young Austrian defender was unyielding throughout the match, effectively thwarting Marseille’s attacking hopes.

Baidoo, who joined this summer to replace Kevin Danso after an excellent three-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League, faced the significant challenge of filling a major gap in the Lens defense. The 21-year-old has stepped up impressively, showing remarkable maturity. Against Marseille, he demonstrated exactly why Pierre Sage was keen to bring him on board during the transfer window. Strong in duels and efficient in his plays, the former Salzburg defender brought a rare calmness to the back line against one of the league’s most dynamic attacking trios. He consistently dominated Robinio Vaz, completely nullifying the Marseille forward’s impact.

Baidoo: A Rock from Austria

Baidoo’s commanding performance also stood out for his strong partnership with defense partners Jonathan Gradit and Malang Sarr. Together, they formed a compact and disciplined unit, well-coordinated in both defensive cover and ball progression. Gradit provided experience, Sarr offered support, and Baidoo contributed strength and anticipation. His stats are impressive: three tackles, one interception, seven clearances, two blocked shots, seven recoveries, and five ground duels won out of seven, along with three aerial duels won out of four. Such statistics are those of a top defender, especially against opponents like Vaz, Greenwood, and Paixao, who struggled to break through.

With each match, Samson Baidoo is emerging as one of the standout revelations this season in Ligue 1. His impressive growth, composure, and positional awareness have already won him the fans’ favor at Bollaert. Recently named man of the match by Foot Mercato, the Graz native represents a new defensive era for RC Lens. Notably, an Austrian has once again taken the mantle from another. Like Kevin Danso before him, Baidoo is making his mark through discipline, game reading, and natural leadership. If Lens has regained its solidity and confidence, much of that credit goes to this young rock from Austria, now a fan favorite among the Sang et Or supporters.