Five classic Derby du Nord clashes

News
George Boxall
Published on 03/30/2025 at 11:00
2-minute read
We take a look at some of the most important clashes in the Derby du Nord.

Lens take on Lille tonight what will be the latest instalment of Ligue 1 McDonald's 'Derby du Nord' - or Derby of the North. Racing, who represent the traditional working class miner town of Lens, will once again face Lille Olympique Sporting Club, the side that represents the cosmopolitan metropole of Lille. So what recent clashes have marked France's Northern derby?

Lens 0-3 Lille, May 2021 


With three games left of the 2020-2021 season, Lille faced Lens in a game which would assure the Ligue 1 title for Les Dogues within the unprecedented circumstances of games being closed behind doors during the COVID Pandemic. The away side didn't hesitate to rush into a three goal lead thanks to goals from Burak Yilmez and Jonathan David. They also put an end to the Sang & Or's hopes of European qualification.

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Lille 1-2 Lens, April 2022

Les Lensois got their revenge the season following Lille's title triumph, this time with the crowd back involved and at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Przemyslaw Frankowski opened the scoring for the away side, before Arnaud Kalimuendo added a second in the 37th minute before Lille pulled one back through Xeka before half-time. 

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Lille 4-0 Lens, October 2020

We once again return to Lille's title winning season, where they dominated in a 4-0 win over their local rivals in October. Yilmaz once again came with the opener, before Jonathan Bamba doubled the hosts' lead. Goals from Jonathan Ikone and Yusuf Yazici sealed the deal in the second half.

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Lens 1-4 Lille, September 2010


In the era of Rudi Garcia at LOSC, Lens and Lille faced off in a fiery derby which saw the Sang & Or reduced down to nine men. Despite the deficit, Lens managed to claw back the score to 1-1. Yet, a dominant second period saw Lille run away with a 4-1 win thanks to goals from former Lens man Pierre-Alain Frau and Gervinho.

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RC Lens 1-0 Lille, September 2021


It would be a first derby win for Franck Haise's side since promotion to Ligue 1 the season after Lille's title triumph. Przemyslaw Frankowski would score a penalty in the 74th minute as Lens began their 2021-2022 season positively.

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