Seven months after fearing the worst, here they are 90 minutes into ecstasy.
On October 18, Matthieu and Jean-Pierre had not recognized their team, third at the time, on the lawn of the enemy in Lille.
A slap (4-0), two exclusions, and a leadership position offered for the first time to the men of Christophe Galtier, already led by a great Burak Yilmaz.
End of recess in the Ligue 1 summits, let's think especially about maintenance, he said to each other then.
This Friday evening at 9 p.m., for the return leg, the 38,000 seats at the Bollaert stadium will once again be desperately empty and Jean-Pierre will once again sit in front of his television with his wife - whom he met at the stadium, like a generation older. early, his parents.
But he knows that the stakes will be a thousand times greater and more beautiful than in the fall.
To read also "It's like Parisians and Marseillais": Lille-Lens, a derby in the heart of northern families
“This derby has an incredible flavor.
We are still in contention for the Europa League with this fifth place.
And Lille believes more than ever in the title, ”blows this native of Lens, responsible for the Bollaert Boys, an association based on the Opal Coast.
“Finally, the outward journey served as a trigger.
The players have learned how much Ligue 1 is played on details and since then they have gained confidence, ”he continues.
"Popular fervor had perhaps shaken them a little"
For Mathieu, the graduates also had to “integrate” what such a shock represented.
Former president of Sang et Nord, a collective of fans based in enemy lands, he is now the head of the Culture Sang et Or podcast. first leg than a derby, it is won.
The popular fervor had perhaps shaken them a little ”.
Derby Lille-Lens approaching.
111th of the name.
The Artesians have invaded the bridges as far as Lille ... #Derby pic.twitter.com/0muuBpLXnd
- Grégoire Margotton (@gregmargotton) October 18, 2020
Last summer, when checking this day of L1, Mathieu prayed above all that the maintenance is already assured.
"But today, the team knows that they can do a double blow and make us crazy with joy."
A fortnight ago, during the reception in Nîmes, a banner deployed in the stands also recalled the order of priorities.
“Three years ago, we had the worst team in the history of Racing, this season you are one of the most beautiful.
Don't give up… And fart Lille!
», It was written.
A message as clear as the "Explode them" written on the posters pasted in the streets of Lille in recent days, or as the banners brandished on several road bridges in the region.
Banner in Lens this afternoon:
“Three years ago we had the worst team in the history of Racing, this season you are one of the most beautiful.
Don't let go ... and fart Lille!
»
📸 @RichGotte pic.twitter.com/B6iNwzEDDL
- Football News (@ActuFoot_) April 25, 2021
Guillaume Warmuz has fun.
"If I say that Lille deserves to win Ligue 1, I get slaughtered".
The one who protected the Blood and Gold cages for 427 matches (1992-2003) believes that Epinal's image of “Lens the proletarian versus Lille the bourgeois” still feeds this animosity.
“But if I take my technician's cap and go beyond the war of bell towers, we must recognize that what they achieve with Galtier is exceptional, continues the former lensois doorman.
It reminds me of our title in 1997-1998 where we were not calibrated to compete for the title either ”.
Kakuta at the heart of this derby
Opposite, the fans of the Mastiffs are not left out in terms of chambering and insults. They make fun of the club's 14 years of invincibility against Racing with banners and hashtags on social networks. However, beware of slippages on both sides in this already very tense end of the season. A week before the first leg, some Lensois had entered the Luchin training center, pushing Losc to file a complaint.
If some sorrowful spirits believe that this rivalry is now only a matter of supporters, "in the age of football business", let them go talk to Gaël Kakuta, a former football hope born in Lille but trained at RC Lens and back home this season. "If we can deprive Lille of the title, it would be nice too," he smiled at a press conference on Wednesday, almost offended that he was asked if he would prefer to see PSG titled on May 23. A touch of humor that the “Kral” Burak Yilmaz has not visibly tasted. “He should have kept that to himself. In addition, they have just played against Paris where they lost, he dropped this Thursday. I have nothing else to add ”. At least before kick-off.