Lille beat Lens 1-0 in Derby du Nord as Giroud scores late
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The gist
Lille beat Lens 1-0 in the 125th Derby du Nord, Olivier Giroud scoring late off the bench.
The win lifted Lille to second in Ligue 1, two points behind PSG.
Background
Lille (LOSC Lille) are a Ligue 1 club now coached by Davide Ancelotti, the 37-year-old son of Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, who replaced Bruno Genesio over the summer. The Derby du Nord against regional rival Lens is one of French football's fiercest fixtures, and this was its 125th edition, played at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Lille have built a reputation as a talent factory, selling academy graduates for large fees in recent windows, including Leny Yoro to Manchester United and Lucas Chevalier to PSG.
How it unfolded
- Oct 25, 2026Lille drew 1-1 with Monaco in Ligue 1, with Ethan Mbappé and Hákon Haraldsson among the starters.
- Oct 28, 2026Lens barred its own fans from travelling to the derby at Lille, saying behaviour at Club Brugge had 'crossed a red line'.
- Oct 30, 2026Lille beat Lens 1-0 in the 125th Derby du Nord; Olivier Giroud scored the late winner from a rebound after Robin Risser parried Nabil Bentaleb's long-range effort.
- Oct 30, 2026PSG beat Le Havre 5-1, leaving Lille second on 18 points, two behind PSG, with Rennes third on 16.
- Nov 2, 2026Lille agreed to pay €24.8 million in arrears plus €1.8 million in interest to settle years of halted rent payments for Stade Pierre-Mauroy, ending a case before the Lille Administrative Tribunal.
- Nov 3, 2026Lens players' attitude was questioned internally after the derby defeat, according to L'Équipe.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Lens said a red line was crossed at Club Brugge and that the away-fan ban for the derby aimed 'to punish and to prevent'.
- Expert
- Lille midfielder Nabil Bentaleb said the club has 'this culture of believing in young players' and is 'not scared of giving them a chance'.
- Official
- Lille president Olivier Letang said the club aims to create a clear pathway for young talent.
Still unverified
L'Équipe reported that Lens players' attitude was questioned internally after the derby defeat; the club has not confirmed this publicly.