On Wednesday, Como will play at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, the home of RC Lens and the venue for Matchday 4 of the Champions League league phase.

Located in central Lens, the stadium has a capacity of 38,223, more than the city’s population. Its four separate stands, proximity to the pitch and standing sections have helped make it one of the most distinctive grounds in French football.

Cesc Fàbregas’ side will face a crowd whose connection with Racing reflects the mining history of the wider region.

From the Stade des Mines to Bollaert-Delelis

The stadium opened on 18 June 1933 under the name Stade des Mines. Its construction was promoted by the local mining company, which played a central role in the economic and social development of Lens.

Miners also took part in building the ground. Its connection with coal is therefore not merely symbolic, but part of its origins, just as mining is central to the history of RC Lens.

The original stadium had an oval configuration. Later redevelopment gradually transformed it into the English-style rectangular ground seen today, with the stands positioned close to the pitch.

Why Is It Called Bollaert-Delelis?

The stadium is named after two figures connected with the history of Lens and Racing.

Félix Bollaert, a senior figure in the local mining company, promoted the construction of the ground. Following his death in 1936, the stadium was renamed in his honour.

In 2012, the name of André Delelis, mayor of Lens from 1966 to 1998, was added. Delelis supported Racing after the mining company gradually withdrew its involvement and helped transfer the stadium to the local authority.

The current name therefore brings together the stadium’s mining origins and the later public support that helped protect the club.

A Stadium with More Seats Than Residents

The Bollaert-Delelis can accommodate 38,223 spectators, while Lens has a population of around 33,000.

Racing’s support, however, extends far beyond the city. The club represents a much wider area and attracts fans from across the Pas-de-Calais and the former mining basin.

The stadium stands within the urban fabric, a short distance from the centre. On matchdays, supporters move through Lens before gathering around the ground.

This relationship between the stadium and its surroundings is also explored in our guide to the Lens City.

The Bollaert-Delelis has been owned directly by RC Lens since 2025.

The Four Stands of Bollaert-Delelis

The stadium consists of four separate stands:

• Marek-Xercès
• Lepagnot
• Trannin
• Delacourt

The Marek-Xercès stand accommodates the most active section of the Lens support. The kop occupies the lower tier of a side stand, directly opposite the television cameras, rather than an end behind one of the goals.

This position places the supporters at the visual centre of the stadium. Some sections also retain standing areas with unreserved places, while the compact structure keeps the crowd close to the pitch and concentrates the noise inside the ground.

The number 12 is symbolically reserved for the supporters and is not assigned to RC Lens players.

World Cups and European Championships in Lens

The Bollaert-Delelis has hosted several major international competitions staged in France:

• UEFA Euro 1984
• The 1998 FIFA World Cup
• The 1999 Rugby World Cup
• The 2007 Rugby World Cup
• UEFA Euro 2016

During the 1998 World Cup, the stadium hosted France’s round-of-16 victory over Paraguay. At Euro 2016, its fixtures included the round-of-16 match between Croatia and Portugal.

The stadium’s attendance record dates back to the 1991/92 season, when 48,912 spectators watched Lens face Olympique de Marseille. The layout at the time allowed a significantly larger crowd than the current capacity.

Como in Front of the Lens Support

Como will face a Lens side that has built part of its European record through home performances. Lazio, AC Milan, Sampdoria and Udinese have all lost at least once at the Bollaert-Delelis, as detailed in our review of RC Lens’ record against Italian clubs.

The most recent connection between the two clubs dates back to the summer. Invited to the second edition of the tournament organised by Como, the French side beating Villarreal in the final at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.

On Wednesday, Como will enter the home of Lens. The proximity of the stands, the lateral kop and the participation of the crowd will be concrete factors, particularly when the hosts attempt to increase the intensity and pressure of the match.

For Como, managing those moments will be essential. Fàbregas’ team will need to control the ball and the tempo without allowing Lens, encouraged by the Bollaert-Delelis crowd, to dictate the kind of game the French side prefer.