A very important Derby du Nord for both teams. Lille are in the hunt for the Ligue 1 title and need to keep Paris Saint-Germain off their backs, whereas Lens are trying to secure European football for next season with Marseille breathing down their necks. Both teams are having great years, but the previous derby was Lens’ worst performance of the season, getting thrashed at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Much as he did against Lyon, after losing control of the midfield in the first meeting, Franck Haise opted for a 3-5-1-1 formation in the second. This offered greater defensive solidity through the centre, while still getting to include Gaël Kakuta in attack. He made three changes to the side that lost to PSG, as Jean-Louis Leca and Kakuta were fit enough to start and Loïc Badé came back from suspension, seeing Wuilker Farinez, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Facundo Medina drop to the bench.
Christophe Galtier made just one change to the team that beat Nice, swapping out the suspended Benjamin André for Xeka in the midfield of their 4-4-2.
It took just a minute for Lille to win a penalty and take the lead. Lens’ wing-backs would push forward to press Lille’s full-backs, leaving the centre-backs to cover Jonathan Bamba and Luiz Araujo. Twice in the opening minute, Steven Fortes was pulled forward onto Araujo and Jonathan David made a run into the gap behind him, dragging Badé across to cover. The second time, Araujo made a run into the gap Badé left in the centre, too quick for Fortes, to pick up the ball from David and passed to Bamba, who was felled, winning Lille their penalty.
This was the obvious downside to leaving their backline one-on-one with Lille’s attack, however pushing the wing-backs forward onto Lille’s full-backs did allow them to disrupt Lille’s build-up. Clément Michelin and Jonathan Clauss would push up to pressure Mehmet Zeki Celik and Reinildo Mandava, while Kakuta and Seko Fofana would stick tight to Boubakary Soumaré and Xeko in the centre and Ignatius Ganago would pressure the centre-backs. This stopped Lille from being able to play short, however they were obviously happy to simply hit it forward to their attackers, where Lens were left without cover.
Having taken such an early lead, Lille were able to relax, defending in a narrow 4-4-2. Their forwards would stick close to Cheick Doucouré and occasionally pressure the centre-backs, while the wingers would tuck inside, in position to block the passes forward into Fofana and Yannick Cahuzac (if he pushed high), press Doucouré and Cahuzac (if he stayed deep) in the deep midfield, or press the wing-backs out wide.
There were two bright spots in Lens’ attempts to break down Lille. The first was the movement of Cahuzac, who would switch between staying deep next to Doucouré and pushing forward between the lines. These movements forward helped to occupy Mandava at times, giving Clauss some space as the left-back didn’t want to move out and leave Cahuzac free. Better still were when he coordinated his movements with Kakuta though, pushing forward as the attacker dropped deep to stop him being followed, winning Kakuta some space to pick up the ball and turn.
The second was Jonathan Gradit pushing forward from centre-back. With just two forwards to cover three defenders, if Lens could drag Lille’s attackers across to one side or stretch wide, they could win space for their outside centre-backs. This wasn’t particularly useful for the lanky Fortes, who isn’t that strong with the ball at his feet, especially as he was on the wrong side to use his stronger right foot, however Gradit was able to push forward down the right several times.
Lille were in control of the match, but Lens were at least competing until the 35th minute, when Michelin received a second yellow card. Lens switched to a 4-4-1, with Gradit switching to left-back and Fofana and Kakuta on the wings. Now outnumbered, Lens started to drop off rather than pressing.
Minutes later, Lille, smelling blood, pressed Lens high up the pitch, won back the ball in their half and Burak Yilmaz fired home his second goal from the edge of the area. 15 minutes into the second half, they did the same again, winning the ball back from a Lens goal-kick for David to finish.
In the second half, Cahuzac began to back either in between or to the right of the centre-backs, helping them to maintain a back three to play out from the back. The problem was that this left only Doucouré in midfield. Lens would work the ball up the pitch with the back three only for Lille to reclaim the ball as soon as Lens tried to pass the halfway line.
The game pretty much died as a contest when Michelin was sent off, with the two further goals simply nails in the coffin. Lens have had a fantastic season, consistently showing their superb mentality, but put in their worst performances in the derbies against Lille.
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