After achieving the Champions League, rising in the French League rankings? An impressive winner over Arsenal on Tuesday, Lens, who are only 15th in the Championship, are looking for points in the north derby against Lille on Sunday (5:05pm).
No sooner had Bullert’s rage subsided than his corpse was about to roar again. Five days after their impressive victory over Arsenal (2-1), Aren Sang and Our host the 117th North Derby, which is usually the match that fans of the two clubs celebrate as soon as the French League calendar is revealed.
However, those arriving from Lille were banned from traveling by order of the Pas-de-Calais department, despite Lusk’s appeal to the Administrative Court.
Aside from the usual excitement, this time additional pressure accompanies the players of the Artesian club, which is still in bad shape in the tournament despite the recent recovery, which included two victories, against Toulouse (2-1) and then against Strasbourg (1-0), after the click in Seville. (1-1) in C1.
This new major reunion is a blessing in disguise, according to the players. “We said it to each other in the locker room,” says Adrian Thomasson. “We are happy to face Lille because it will be a big match. We will have to increase the intensity. We cannot lower our level. We must be able to do that.” “Playing a derby match after a big match is good.”
On Tuesday evening, coach Frank Hayes had his head set for Sunday’s encounter: “We will have other great evenings to experience, starting with the derby. What matters, from now on, is to prepare Lille well.”
– Lille possession, Lens’ advantage? –
In the best position (7th place with 11 points), Lille is only a few points away from the podium but shows inconsistency. In the league, they have yet to achieve two consecutive victories and are struggling to regain the attacking play that was their strength last season.
Checked on Thursday in the Faroe Islands, with a very modified 11, by the very modest club Klaksvik (0-0), in the European Conference League, the Mastiffs did not celebrate as much as the Artois players.
But in Boulaert, the team will be able to count on the return of Nabil Bentaleb, Adam Ounas (muscle injuries) and Samuel Umtiti (concussion), uncertain but ultimately “ready,” coach Paulo Fonseca announced on Saturday.
The Portuguese technician added: “They are not ready to play 90 minutes, but it is important to have players like them in the group.”
It is enough to provide some additional solutions for Losc, while this duel comes in advance at the right time for the Racing Club of Lens, and with better dynamics. Moreover, the characteristics of Lille’s match should not displease the Liencois team: Lille should have possession, which suits the opponents.
Fans of the game of ‘dispossession’ – as in the Arsenal game where they only had possession 32% of the time – Frank Hayes’ players thrive on high recovery rates and quick transitions. The goal the team scored on the final day of the L1 league in Strasbourg (1-0) – the first from rookie Ilie Wahi, who was also decisive against Arsenal – makes that clear.
Jonathan Gradet, who will be suspended on Sunday, noted: “I think we found RC Lens a while ago. We had a very good game in Seville. We are finding our fundamentals, with a lot of desire.”
The return to the level of managers and the character of this team coincided with the club’s recent good results. “Mental resources, in high-level sport, are essential,” recalls Frank Hayes. “There are a certain number of them. If you are not able to get up when you have just lost, when you are down, that is not the case. This is not the career you should choose.” “
This increase in strength comes largely from this newfound ability to react. It could continue against Lille to conclude the dream week.
