Derby du Nord
 The derby on 3 May 2015 | |
| Other names | Northern Derby |
|---|---|
| Location | Hauts-de-France |
| Teams | |
| First meeting | 11 March 1945 Division 1 (North) Lille 4–0 Lens |
| Latest meeting | 4 April 2026 Ligue 1 Lille 3–0 Lens |
| Stadiums | Stade Bollaert-Delelis (Lens) Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 123 |
| Most wins | Lille (49) |
| Top scorer | Jean Baratte (9) |
| All-time series | Lille: 49 Drawn: 36 Lens: 38 |
| Largest victory | Lille 5–0 Lens (1950, 1952) |
The Derby du Nord (French pronunciation: [dɛʁbi du nɔʁ], lit. 'Northern Derby') is a football rivalry contested between northern French clubs Lens, founded in 1906, and Lille, founded in 1944 through a merger between Olympique Lillois and SC Fives. Both clubs are two of the region's most successful clubs but are located in different departments, with Lens being in Pas-de-Calais, and Lille in Nord.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the name referred to matches between Olympique Lillois and US Tourquennoise, as well as matches between RC Roubaix and Excelsior AC.[1]
Currently, the name can refer to matches involving Lille and Valenciennes as both clubs are located within the Nord department; however, the name historically applies mainly to matches involving Lille and Lens. As a result, the Lille–Valenciennes match is sometimes referred to as the Petit Derby du Nord.
History
The two cities first met in 1937 when Lille were playing under the Olympique Lillois emblem. Due to each club's close proximity towards each other being separated by only 40 kilometres (25 mi) and sociological differences between each club's supporters, a fierce rivalry developed. The first meeting of the sides in current form was happened on 11 March 1945, when Lille beaten Lens 4–0 in the league's north division held immediately after the liberation of France.
Historically, the Derby du Nord was underpinned by social and economic differences, since the city of Lens is known as an old, working-class, industrial city and Lille as a middle-class, modern, internationally oriented one.[2] In recent times, this social class opposition is no longer as relevant where both fanbases now come from both lower and middle classes.[3]
Statistics
Head-to-head record
- As of 4 April 2026
| Competition | Played | Lille | Draw | Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1/Ligue 1 | 104 | 41 | 33 | 30 |
| Division 2/Ligue 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Coupe de France | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Championnat de France Amateur (1935–1971) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 123 | 49 | 36 | 38 |
Honours
| Competition | Titles won | |
|---|---|---|
| Lille | Lens | |
| Division 1/Ligue 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Coupe de France | 6 | 0 |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 0 | 1 |
| Trophée des Champions | 1 | 0 |
| National total | 11 | 2 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1 | 1 |
| International total | 1 | 1 |
| Overall total | 12 | 3 |
See also
- Football records and statistics in France
References
- ^ "Lille-Lens rivaux. Mais pourquoi?". Lille OSC. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ Brassart, Florian; Demollien, Nicolas (8 October 2022). "Derby du nord. D'où vient vraiment cette rivalité historique entre Lille et Lens ?". Actu.fr (in French). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ Nuytens, Williams (2020). La popularité du football : sociologie des supporters à Lens et à Lille [The Populairty of Football: Sociology of Lens and Lille supporters] (in French). Arras: Artois Presses Université. ISBN 978-2848324067.
- ^ "France - Lille OSC Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "France - Racing Club de Lens Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2022.