LOSC - RC Lens

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LOSC were Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions as recently as 2021, and have won 44 of their 115 meetings with Lens to les Sang et Or's 37 victories, but if anything, they will welcome their northern rivals to Lille as underdogs on Sunday.

Lens finished three places and seven points better off than les Dogues last season, and the hosts are already playing catch-up this term, with Sunday's 2-1 defeat to FC Lorient meaning they have lost three of their last five league games to sit in eighth, eight points behind their fourth-placed visitors.

Underdogues

It was Christophe Galtier who steered Lille to that recent French title, but he has since left for Paris Saint-Germain, taking Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches with him, and new man Paulo Fonseca is still seeing his playing philosophy bed in.

The Portuguese tactician has been linked with the recently available managerial post at Wolves in the Premier League, so he is clearly doing something right. Lille had 20 shots at goal to Lorient's seven last time out, but Fonseca was apoplectic about his side's profligacy.

Watch: Highlights of Lille's 2-1 loss at Lorient

"What we did was inexcusable," he blasted after Lorient coach Régis Le Bris' nephew Théo snatched the win three minutes from time. "Everyone needs to know the stakes. We've discussed it internally and much more is expected in the derby. If we play like we did against Lorient we might as well not turn up."

Lille have a clean bill of health, and no European football this season to impact upon overall match fitness, and club captain Fonte agrees with his coach that much better is needed than nine of the last possible 15 points dropped.

"We have no excuses," he said. "We have to stop looking for excuses because we lose games. The derby's a very important game for everyone and we're all aware of it. But you have to learn quickly. You have to be better."

Full-strength

Tiago Djalo is one booking away from a suspension, but he is almost certain to join Fonte in central defence as Fonseca looks to put out a full-strength side. Lucas Chevalier has pulled ahead of Léo Jardim as first choice in goal, while André Gomes' arrival from Everton allows namesake Angel to play further forward at No.10.

Lens have won each of their last three meetings with Lille, beating them home and away in the league last season as well as knocking them out of the Coupe de France last 16 round on penalties.

Fofana and Przemyslaw Frankowski have scored two goals apiece across those meetings, but that Lens are currently in occupation of the UEFA Europa League spot and could go second with victory - depending on other results - is thanks in no small part to Florian Sotoca.

Watch: Highlights of Len's 1-0 win over Lyon

The 31-year-old has already matched last season's tally of six Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals from just nine matches played, and has also thrown in two assists for good measure. Sotoca's late penalty gave Lens victory over Olympique Lyonnais last Sunday, and Fonseca's opposite number Franck Haise is pleased with how things are going.

Haise: '21 points is huge'

"To have 21 points after nine games played is pretty huge for us," he said. "This proves the quality we've put in place. Invincible? I think that's premature, but we're strong. We're confident, but at the same time, confidence doesn't let you take the foot off the gas."

Sporting director Florent Ghisolfi this week left for OGC Nice, but the Lens project seems a long way from derailing.

Centre-back Jonathan Gradit fractured his collarbone against ESTAC Troyes last month while second-choice goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez has a ruptured cruciate ligament, but there should be no surprises in the Lens line-up, with Frankowski or Deiver Machado on the left flank perhaps the biggest question mark.

Possible teams

Lille: Chevalier; Diakité, Fonte, Djalo, Ismaily; André, And. Gomes; Ounas, Ang. Gomés, Bamba; David

Lens: Samba; Haïdara, Danso, Medina; Cabot, Samed, Fofana, Frankowski; Sotoca, Costa; Openda