Lille vs Lens prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2025-03-29 18:45.
[p]The 100th Derby du Nord in Ligue 1 takes place on Sunday as Lille look to continue their recent dominance over Lens which has seen them win eight of the last nine top-flight meetings they’ve hosted (L1). That’s as many wins as they’d recorded in the 20 prior such games, but it’s still the Mastiffs who hold the H2H advantage in Ligue 1 (W38, D33, L28).[/p]
[p]Beginning this gameweek in the final European place following a 1-0 defeat at Nantes before the international break, Bruno Génésio’s side will be aiming to maintain their impressive record from the start of last season of winning 83% of their league games (10/12) following a loss. Lille will also be hoping to find the back of the net for a 39th successive home league game, which would equal their second longest such run from 1955-1959.[/p]
[p]Lens will be no pushovers though and they will arrive at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after successive 1-0 wins against Marseille and Rennes. A victory over their local rivals would see the Blood and Gold record three Ligue 1 wins for the first time in over a year, with the opportunity to also make it three victories without conceding, something they last achieved in April 2023.[/p]
[p]After turning around their away form with three victories from their last five in Ligue 1 (L2), as many as in their previous 12, Lens sit just five points behind their opponents and with their European ambitions for next season still very much alive. But with only one win in Lille since 2004 across all competitions (D2, L10), history suggests a derby win for manager Will Still and his Lens side would be a surprise.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: All six of Hákon Arnar Haraldsson’s league goal involvements (G4, A2) this season have come at home, with all five games ending in a Lille victory. Neil El Aynaoui has contributed to four goals in his last four Ligue 1 games (G3, A1) and could become the second Lens player to be involved in a goal in five consecutive top-flight matches since 2006/07![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Lens have failed to score in only two of their last 21 away league matches (W9, D6, L6)[/p]
[p][i]Written by Tom Penn[/i][/p]