Preview: Lille vs Lens - prediction, team news, lineups

Lens will resume their Ligue 1 title bid when they face arch-rivals Lille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday.

The visitors head into the Derby du Nord in second spot in the Ligue 1 table, while the hosts are 12 points worse off in fifth position. 

Match preview

After winning 14, drawing five and losing eight of their 27 matches, Lille are operating in fifth place and behind fourth-placed Lyon on goal difference. 

The league represents the only avenue for Champions League qualification after the Europa League route disappeared with a 3-0 aggregate defeat to Aston Villa in the last 16 earlier this month.

Lille bounced back from a 2-0 defeat at Villa Park with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in their away Ligue 1 meeting with Marseille before the international break.

Thomas Meunier cancelled out Ethan Nwaneri's opener in the opening stages of the second period, before Olivier Giroud netted an 86th-minute winner to complete a league double over Marseille.

Bruno Genesio's side will return from the two-week break with a derby clash at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, where they have won just one of their last five home matches in Ligue 1 (D2, L2).

While their recent home record leaves a lot to be desired, Les Dogues can take confidence from the fact that they have won each of their last three home meetings with Lens, including a 1-0 victory last season.

© Imago / Press Wire

Lens return from the international break with dreams of winning their second Ligue 1 title after previously achieving glory in the 1997-98 campaign.

Having accumulated 59 points from 27 games, Pierre Sage's side are sitting in second spot and just a point adrift of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, who have played a game more.

Lens were set to face their title rivals next weekend, but to their frustration, the match has been postponed to give PSG rest in between the first and second legs of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Liverpool. 

Les Sang et Or will hope to still be in touch distance of the leaders by the time they face off at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in their rearranged clash on May 13.

Lens' current focus will be on Saturday's crucial derby clash, where they will attempt to claim back-to-back wins after thrashing Angers 5-1 before the international break, thanks to an Odsonne Edouard brace and goals from Florian Thauvin, Mamadou Sangare and Matthieu Udol. 

The visitors have the chance to complete a league double over their rivals for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign after cruising to a 3-0 success in September's reverse fixture.

Lille Ligue 1 form:

Lille form (all competitions):

Lens Ligue 1 form:

Lens form (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago / PsnewZ

Lille remain without the forward duo of Hamza Igamane and Ousmane Toure due to injury. 

Defender Tiago Santos will return to the fold after missing the win over Marseille with an injury issue. 

Gaetan Perrin, Osame Sahraoui, Benjamin Andre and Ethan Mbappe have all returned to training, but it remains to be seen how many of the quartet will be fit to feature in the matchday squad.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon the injured trio of Regis Gurtner, Jonathan Gradit and Kylian Antonio. 

There are also doubts surrounding the availability of Ruben Aguilar, Samson Baidoo, Amadou Haidara and Wesley Said. 

Abdallah Sima is pushing for a recall after settling for a substitute role for the win over Angers before the international window. 

Lille possible starting lineup:

Ozer; Meunier, Ngoy, Mandi, Verdonk; Bentaleb, Bouaddi; Mukau, Haraldsson, Correia; Fernandez-Pardo

Lens possible starting lineup:

Risser; Celik, Ganiou, Sarr; Abdulhamid, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol; Thauvin, Sima; Edouard

We say: Lille 1-2 Lens

Lens have experienced disappointment in recent trips to Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but they have performed well on their travels this season, claiming seven wins in 13 away league games.

With that in mind, we think the title hopefuls will edge out their rivals to keep the pressure on PSG. 

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.