Lens is no longer the unbeatable terror of the north. Unusual favorite announced for the derby against Lille, recent champion of France (2021) returned to more normality where the Blood and Gold outperform, the artesian club failed to enforce its new status on Sunday evening. Beaten 1-0, he fell for the first time this season against Lille carried by a white-hot Pierre-Mauroy, at the end of this 10th day.
What you must remember
A derby for the podium. Remembered throughout the week by Lensois supporters, the challenge of this meeting was bound to trot in a corner of the heads of Lensois, unstoppable and so far undefeated this season (6 wins, 3 draws). Faced with the pressure of the challenge, Franck Haise’s men first put their hearts in but that was not enough against the Mastiffs who were able to bite at the right time.
However, the speed of the Sang et Or in attack posed some problems for the Lille defense at the start of the match. In particular to José Fonte, who came to tackle Deiver Machado in his area (14th), but Florian Sotoca was defeated by Lucas Chevalier (15th). The turning point in a match that quickly tipped the other way since it was on another penalty, for Massadio Haïdara strapping in his area (43rd), that Jonathan David scored his 7th goal of the season (1 -0, 44th). The Canadian offered Timothy Weah the break opportunity on a set, narrowly missed by the American (90th + 1).
Untenable in the second act, Adam Ounas was also not far from the second (47th), but Brice Samba put his foot in, just like a firm hand on a firecracker from André Gomes (72nd). The Lensois tried to equalize, but neither Jimmy Cabot (59th) nor Seko Fofana (60th) caught the frame. Last season, the three derbies were won by the Sang et or, a first since the 1970s. Lille, now seventh, may have tipped the regional dynamic this Sunday evening. The Lensois remain fourth, but miss a great opportunity to insert themselves between Lorient (2nd) and Marseille (3rd).
The player: Lucas Chevalier
Established in the Lille goal for the fourth consecutive time, Lucas Chevalier responded when his team, cornered, needed it the most. By repelling Florian Sotoca’s slightly topped penalty at the quarter of an hour, the 20-year-old international Espoirs returned the confidence placed in him by Paulo Fonseca. Precious in the aerial game and vigilant on the opposing attempts on target – this shot from Alexis Claude-Maurice removed opposite hand (70th), Chevalier assumes his new costume of number 1 of LOSC wonderfully.
The number: 1
Warned in the 14th minute, José Fonte will miss the match against Monaco in two weeks for accumulation of yellow cards. A small event in perspective since the 38-year-old Portuguese defender has not missed a single minute of play this season with LOSC … no more than all of last season.
