Two sides separated by just a point on the French League table, and having played out 1-1 draws in their last two meetings, Lille and Lens, will go at each other again this Friday in the Derby Du Nord at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
With the possibility of securing a UEFA Champions League spot for next season’s new format European competition still a possibility for both teams, a lot more aside the pride of beating a derby rival is set to ride on this Ligue 1 classic.
Lille Might be distracted by European Glory but…
With the 2020-21 Ligue 1 champions having booked their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a date against English surprise performers, Aston Villa, Lille sure have a lot to think about regarding their European hopes.
However, it would come as a great deal of shock if Lille let their European dreams distract them from the task of keeping their incredible home form intact against derby rivals, Lens, in their battle to make the top four, especially given the goal difference and point advantage they have over their competitors.
Paulo Fonseca’s side have their astonishing streak of home form to thank for their fourth-placed standing, as they have only suffered three league defeats at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, including just one in the current campaign.
Since Reims left with a shock 2-1 win under their belts in September, Fonseca's men have strung together a nine-match unbeaten home run in Ligue 1, a sequence that includes a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain and a 2-0 win over Monaco.
Lens: No European Distractions and Their Away Form is…
Frank Haise’s men may have rued getting knocked out of the UEFA Europa League but that misfortune may just be the thing that helps their domestic season as they can now singularly focus on trying to make it to Europe again next season.
First in their way to achieving that goal is a tough side, one they have not managed to beat in their last two meetings but the fact that they will be going away should serve as great motivation given their stellar away form currently although the Stade Pierre-Mauroy is a fortress Lille at the moment too.
Indeed, Lens have taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer on their travels and have kept an incredible eight clean sheets in their last 10 Ligue 1 away matches - no team possesses more on the road in the entire season.
Match Stats
Lille have kept the most clean sheets in the competition (14), while Lens have kept the most clean sheets away from home in the French league this season (8).
Lille are ranked 5th in goals scored per match (1.4 goals) in the league. Similarly, on goals, it’s been 13 months since Lille last failed to score in a Ligue 1 game at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Lille’s Angel Gomes is ranked 2nd in big chances created in the competition (10) while Lens’ Florian Sotoca is ranked 3rd in big chances created in the competition (10).
Lens is ranked 7th in goals scored per match (1.3 goals). Similarly, Lens has seen under 2.5 goals scored in all of their 3 most recent clashes with Lille in Ligue 1.
You can check out the Lille vs Lens Derby du Nord game in Ligue 1 on MSport here.
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