LOSC vs Lens: the Derby du Nord has the league buzzing 
The heat is on in Hauts-de-France this Saturday. Stade Pierre-Mauroy is set to rock for a Derby du Nord with huge consequences. LOSC, fifth, are scrapping hard for a Champions League spot, while RC Lens, second, are locked in a breathless sprint for the French crown.
LOSC defend home turf 
Comfortably sitting in the top half and miles clear of any relegation panic, Lille have still had a messy month. Their back line leaked badly in the Europa League against Aston Villa, but Bruno Genesio’s side found a way to bounce back. Just before the break, they took down Marseille 2-1 thanks to a late Olivier Giroud winner at the death.
That said, their home form has hardly been rock-solid lately, with just one win from their last five at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Still, there’s no reason for doom and gloom before this marquee clash: Lille have won their last three home derbies against Lens. To avoid a nasty tumble in front of their own fans, the hosts will lean on that edge and try to suffocate their neighbours from the first whistle.
Lens eye the crown 
On the other side of the border battle, confidence is sky-high. Pierre Sage’s Lens are having a brilliant season and are sitting just one point behind the Paris leaders. Ruthlessly efficient in attack, Lens just battered Angers 5-1, proving they can stick them away with embarrassing ease when the machine is humming.
The target for this short trip is clear: break the Stade Pierre-Mauroy hoodoo and keep the insane pace at the top of Ligue 1. Faced with Lille’s early surge, the visitors will almost certainly have to dig in. If they survive that first storm without cracking, they’ll have every chance of pulling off a loud smash-and-grab that could prove massive in the title race.
Probable line-ups
LOSC : Ozer ; Meunier, Ngoy, Mandi, Verdonk ; Bentaleb, Bouaddi ; Mukau, Haraldsson, Correia ; Fernandez-Pardo
Lens : Risser ; Celik, Ganiou, Sarr ; Abdulhamid, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol ; Thauvin, Sima ; Edouard
Football prediction Lille vs Lens
Lille to win
Derbies very often laugh in the face of the spreadsheet, and rivalry tends to drag the best out of everyone involved.
Even though Lens have been superb away from home this season and are battling brilliantly for the title, Stade Pierre-Mauroy has been a genuine minefield for the Artois side in recent years. The Dogues know how to raise their game for these big local showdowns. Backed by their crowd and lifted by that recent win over Marseille, Lille have just enough edge, bite and belief to stop their rivals’ momentum and nick a brutal, tight contest.
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