Lens' focus faces Lille test
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Article summary
Flying high in Europe, RC Lens and LOSC Lille Métropole aim to kick off the new year in style as they meet in Ligue 1's big northern derby this weekend.
Article body
Good shape
The 82nd meeting of Les Sang et Or and Les Dogues finds both sides in good shape. Both are preparing to continue European campaigns in the spring and while UEFA Cup contenders Lens are second in Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League hopefuls Lille are just four points behind them in fifth. Local pride aside, Lille have good reason to want to leave the Stade Félix-Bollaert with at least a point on Saturday. "Four points is about as big a gap as we can accept," said Lille midfielder Mathieu Debuchy. "We have to avoid losing if we want to stay among the top places."
Great run
Points against Lens have been hard to come by this season. Since 1 October they have lost just once - a 4-0 defeat against runaway league leaders Olympique Lyonnais. However, for once, home advantage may not count for so much as Lille will be on familiar territory. With their home stadium being declared inadequate for UEFA Champions League games, Lille have been playing their European ties at the Stade Félix-Bollaert this season. "We'll feel a little bit more at home," said Lens coach Francis Gillot. "But I don't think it will be a major factor in this game."
Previous meeting
A more important factor might be Lens' desire for revenge, having lost 4-0 at Lille in their first meeting of the season back in August. Gillot played down that angle, but conceded: "After the 4-0 defeat we did not expect to be ahead of Lille in the table five months later." However, while Gillot talked dispassionately, saying it would be "interesting to see how we both look after a two-week break", defender Marco Ramos admitted: "The 4-0 defeat has stayed with us. Our fans would be relieved to see us do our best and win."
Cup successes
Both teams did well in the French Cup last week. Lens came back from 3-1 down at AS Nancy-Lorraine to draw 3-3, triumphing 9-8 on penalties, while Lille ran out 2-0 winners at Ligue 2 leaders FC Metz. Lille captain Stéphane Dumont will miss the Lens game through injury while Lens' Issam Jemaa is suspended. Lille have not won an away league game against Lens since 4 February 2001. This would not be a bad time to break that particular duck.
