Lens vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-09-19 19:05.
[p]The 103rd top-flight Derby du Nord takes place on Saturday evening as Lens host their unbeaten local rivals Lille.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Pierre Sage has begun his reign in charge of Lens with two defeats from his opening four matches (W2), making him the first coach of the club to do so since Antoine KombouarĂ© in August 2014. The victories have been sandwiched by a home defeat against Lyon – their seventh Ligue 1 loss at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in 2025 – and last week’s 2-0 defeat at champions Paris Saint Germain. Another home defeat this weekend would equal their highest total in a calendar year in the top flight, whereas a win would see Lens move to within a point of their opponents.[/p]
[p]Ahead of round five, no team had scored more goals in Ligue 1 than Lille (13) and only last season’s champions PSG were above them in the table. They began the campaign with a 3-3 draw away at Brest and have since won their last three including a 7-1 thrashing of Lorient in their last game on the road. Ten goals from their last two away matches is as many as the Mastiffs managed in their previous ten as visitors, and this excellent start now provides Bruno Génésio’s side with the opportunity to win four of their first five top-flight matches for the first time since 1952/53, a season when they went on to finish fourth.  [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]A 1-0 win in September 2021 remains Lens’ only Ligue 1 home victory against Lille across their last ten home H2Hs (D5, L4), while the visitors will be targeting a fourth consecutive top-flight triumph over their rivals for the first time this weekend.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Lens kept a clean sheet in only one of their last ten Ligue 1 fixtures.[/p]
[p]Lens conceded the first goal in four of their last five home games (W2, L3).[/p]
[p]Lille have scored five goals from the 90th minute onwards this season.[/p]
[p]Lille kept a clean sheet in only two of their last 11 Ligue 1 matches.[/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]Adrien Thomasson scored in Lens’ last home match and has faced Lille in 21 Ligue 1 games, more times than against any other side, but he has beaten them just once (D7, L13). MatĂas Fernández-Pardo contributed to a goal in both H2Hs last season (G1, A1) and scored twice in Lille’s last away game.[/p]
[p]Lens’ Deiver Machado remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Lille will be without Thomas Meunier and Alexsandro.[/p]
[p]For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre[/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]The visitors have been prolific in front of goal away from home this season, so backing Lille to score 2+ goals looks a smart bet.[/p]
[p][i]Author: Tom Penn[/i][/p]