In front of his home crowd, the reigning French champion again performed sadly, like his last two matches against Bordeaux (0-0) and Angers (1-1), and was logically punished by Blood and Gold solids.

At the end of the match, some supporters of the Lille kop tried to force access to the pitch but were contained by the stewards and then by the police who used tear gas to repel them.

The RCL won thanks to goals from Przemyslaw Frankowski (4th) and Arnaud Kalimuendo (37th), while Xeka's reduction in score was ultimately in vain (45th +1).

The joy of Lensois midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski, after opening the scoring against Lille, during the 32nd day of Ligue 1, April 16, 2022 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP

Without ideas, the Mastiffs relied on the flashes of Renato Sanches and Edon Zhegrova to try to destabilize an artesian formation well in place and dangerous on the counter.

This new defeat almost sounds the death knell for Lille's European hopes, temporarily relegated to eighth place.

Blocked at 48 points, Lille are respectively three and four lengths behind Nice (6th) and Strasbourg (5th), who face Lorient and Troyes on Sunday, poorly ranked.

The Lensois, on the other hand, can savor this new triumph in a derby in the North, the first in Lille since 2003, after the two victories at Bollaert-Delelis in the league in September (1-0) and in the Coupe de France in January (2 -2, 4 to 3 on tabs).

The Artésiens take the opportunity to overtake their great rival by going back to seventh place (50 points) and can continue to dream of an improbable qualification for the European Cup since Monaco, the fourth, is only three lengths away. .

The RCL took control of operations from the start of the match and were quickly rewarded: on a corner kick taken by Jonathan Clauss, José Fonte deflected the ball, which landed at Frankowski's feet.

The latter, alone at the far post, opened the scoring from outside the right (0-1, 4th).

The Pole had already been decisive by offering victory to his team in the first leg in Lens.

- Jardim limits breakage -

Stunned, Losc struggled to react and Leo Jardim even kept his team afloat by making several decisive saves against Kalimuendo twice (20th to 26th) and Seko Fofana (33rd).

On the other hand, the Brazilian goalkeeper could not do anything on a new attempt by Kalimuendo: served back by Clauss, the striker on loan from Paris SG resumed without control and his shot was diverted by Fonte (0-2, 37th ).

Lensois striker Arnaud Kalimuendo (d), author of the 2nd Lensois goal against Lille, during the 32nd day of Ligue 1, April 16, 2022 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP

Apart from a shot on the post from Sanches (21st) and two long attempts from Zhegrova (24th) and Jonathan David (33rd), the Northerners struggled to be dangerous.

But on a superb cross from Zhegrova, Xeka reduced the score just before half-time and gave hope to the public (1-2, 45th + 1).

Lille's Portuguese midfielder Xeka reduced the score (1-2) against Lens, during the 32nd day of Ligue 1, on April 16, 2022 at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP

Back from the locker room, the Mastiffs pushed, multiplying the offensives and corners, but without really worrying Wuilker Farinez, vigilant on a strike from Jonathan Bamba (53rd).

The Artesian doorman was then once again successful on a shot from Zhegrova which hit the post (66th).

Despite a last attempt by Benjamin André (90th + 1), Losc could not prevent the victory of Lens, to the delight of the thousands of Lensois supporters present "clandestinely" at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy since the prefect had prohibited a trip blood and gold fan official.

In additional time, they even sang "Les Corons", their anthem, angering their Lille counterparts who copiously insulted them before whistling their own players and demanding the resignation of coach Jocelyn Gourvennec.

© 2022 AFP