The Derby du Nord (, ) 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.
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 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. In recent times, this social class opposition is no longer as relevant where both fanbases now come from both lower and middle classes.
Statistics Head-to-head record
CompetitionPlayed LilleDraw LensDivision 1/Ligue 1104413330Division 2/Ligue 26213Coupe de France10613Coupe de la Ligue1001Championnat de France Amateur (1935–1971)2011Total123493638
Honours
Competition Lille Lens Division 1/Ligue 1 4 1 Coupe de France 6 1 Coupe de la Ligue 0 1 Trophée des Champions 1 1 11 4 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1 1 1 1 12 5
See also Football records and statistics in France
References
External links Lille OSC RC Lens