Ahead of Friday evening's massive Derby du Nord between Lens and Lille, we look at some of the greatest matches in the derby's history.
The Round 36 clash will be the first at Stade Bollaert-Delélis since September 2010 as the last top division "home" game for Lens in the clash took place at the Stade de France in December 2014, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
LENS 1-4 LILLE, 11 September 2010
After four draws to open the season, Lille scored their first win of the campaign in the derby. It kick-started a glorious season that culminated in Rudi Garcia's side doing the Ligue 1 - Coupe de France double. Yohan Cabaye picked out Gervinho to beat Vedran Runje to open the scoring (23') and Lens were then reduced to nine men as Sébastien Roudet and Issam Jemâa were sent off either side of half-time.
Miraculously, les Sang et Or equalised (61') through Razak Boukari but Lille made their extra men count as Pierre-Alain Frau stepped off the bench to score a double (79' and 81') before Gervinho (87') put the seal on LOSC's biggest win in the fixture since 1986. Lens finished the season in 19th place and were relegated, a sharp contrast to the glory enjoyed by Rudi Garcia's Dogues.
Following the derby win, Garcia said: "Winning a derby is always satisfying, especially away from home. We scored four goals through our forwards and the win allowed us to reposition ourselves in the standings and pick up confidence. That's a plus for what's to come."
LENS 4-2 LILLE, 29 April 2006
Lens are winless in their last 11 Ligue 1 matches against their northern neighbours (D3, L8) since their fine win late in the 2005-2006 season. Both clubs were aiming for a European finish and it was Francis Gillot's Lens who picked up the three big points in a match that provided far more entertainment than the 0-0 between the clubs earlier in the season.
Olivier Thomert (9'), Daniel Cousin (40') and Seydou Keita (43') made it 3-0 at half-time as Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva endured a horrible first half. Peter Odemwingie (51') reduced the Lens lead but future LOSC striker Pierre-Alain Frau re-established the three-goal margin (53'). Kader Keita (70') netted a consolation for Lille. Both sides finished with ten men as Kevin Mirallas of Lille and the home team's Yohan Démont were sent off in the 89th minute. Claude puel's Lille ended the season in third position, qualifying for the Champions League, while Lens had to content themselves with fourth place and UEFA Cup qualification.
LENS 1-1 LILLE, 7 December 2014
With the Stade Bollaert-Delélis being redeveloped, Lens hosted Lille at the Stade de France in the Paris suburbs in the first northern derby since January 2011. Lille came into the match with the worst scoring record in the division and René Girard put his faith in Nolan Roux and young Divock Origi for the derby. 18th in the table, Antoine Kombouaré's Lens were hoping to climb out of the drop zone and move level on points with their opponents.
LOSC were on course for their first win in two months when Idrissa Gueye (47') opened the scoring after playing a one-two with Ronny Rodelin and then another with Roux before beating Rudy Riou. Lens had spurned many first half chances but finally found a way past Lille's Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama (90+2') when Laïlana Nomenjanahary's cross was headed in by Adamo Coulibaly.
Lens finished the season bottom of the league, making an immediate return to Ligue 2, while Lille climbed to eighth by the season's end, despite managing only 43 goals from their 38 matches.