Ligue 1 preview: Northern Derby pits Lille against Lens

Opposite ends of the Ligue 1 table collide in Saturday’s Northern Derby when Lille host Lens at the Stade Lille-Metropole.

League-leaders Lille will be looking to increase their four-point break on chasing trio Paris Saint-Germain, Rennes and Lyon, while for 17th-placed Lens Saturday’s match is a chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone.

Lille boss Rudi Garcia will be hoping for more good form from striker Moussa Sow, whose 15 goals this term see him top the Ligue 1 goal-scoring charts and have been a large part in their rise up the table after a fourth-placed finish last season.

Garcia’s side are in a rich vein of form at the moment, unbeaten in the league since their 3-1 loss to Marseille on October 24, and have conceded just one goal in their past four games.

Lens’ teenage centre back Raphael Varane is desperate for success in his first derby encounter however, and believes his side must get on the offensive come Saturday.

“We will really give everything for 90 minutes. We must do whatever it takes,” Varane said.

“Since I’m young, I’ve never lost a derby. We know that Lille are a team that work very, very well right now, with an attack that moves well. We will try to address that as we can.”

“But, hey, it’s a game where you have to at least get a draw. For me, it will be a special meeting because I am a native of Lille.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, PSG travel to bottom side Arles, who are 12 points adrift of their nearest rivals, while third-placed Rennes travel to the Stade Bonal to take on Sochaux who are in 11th place.

Fourth-placed Lyon make the trip to Valenciennes, who like Lens will be keen for points to move further away from the drop zone, and Toulouse could move as high as fourth if they can score a win on their trip to St Etienne.

Auxerre, who finished third last season, will be desperate for three points from their trip to Caen as they look to improve on their 14th position, while Lorient welcome Brest with both sides sitting in mid-table.

On Sunday, Nancy play host to Montpellier at the Stade Marcel Picot and Jean Tigana’s Bordeaux side welcome Nice.

And fifth-placed Marseille will have the top four in their sights when they travel to struggling Monaco for Sunday’s late game.