Lens close their own away end for the Lille derby after 132 pyrotechnics at Bruges

RC Lens will play Friday's Derby du Nord at Lille with an empty away section, and the decision is the club's own. In a statement published on Wednesday, Lens said they had told their supporter groups on Monday that the visitors' end at Stade Pierre-Mauroy would stay closed.

The trigger was the Champions League trip to Bruges on 21 October, a 3-0 defeat. UEFA's report counted 132 pyrotechnic devices in the Lens section. According to the club, some were thrown towards the pitch and other spectators, Lens supporters with reduced mobility were hit, and firecrackers injured a steward. "A red line has been crossed. This line was in no way implicit," the statement read, adding that the use of pyrotechnics had been agreed collectively before kick-off.

Three incidents since 10 September

The club's stance follows a run of incidents. Lens were fined €15,000 after flares in Prague on 10 September, and their league win at Troyes on 17 October was halted for a few minutes around the half-hour when dozens of flares were lit. UEFA has since fined Lens €80,000 for Bruges and closed their away sections at Leipzig on 24 November and Liverpool on 27 January. The club says the Lille ban is meant both to punish and to prevent a repeat.

What is at stake on the pitch

Lille sit third on 15 points, two ahead of Lens in seventh and two behind leaders PSG. Lille coach Davide Ancelotti's side are unbeaten at home (two wins, two draws, three goals conceded) and have let in six league goals all season, joint fewest in Ligue 1 with Lorient. Lens have taken four points from four away games.

Lille drew 1-1 at Monaco on Sunday after Tanguy Nianzou was sent off in the 66th minute, and the defender is suspended for the derby. Ancelotti, preparing for his first Derby du Nord, said after that game: "We know it's the most important match of the season for our supporters. I can't wait to experience this atmosphere."

Édouard adds to Lens's absentees

Lens striker Odsonne Édouard had surgery on his adductors on Wednesday morning after weeks of chronic pain and will be out for several weeks, Lens announced. He joins Maik Nawrocki, Ismaëlo Ganiou, Jonathan Gradit and Abdallah Sima among the absentees. Lens's Florian Thauvin has four league goals and seven assists, the most assists in Ligue 1. No Lille player has scored more than twice in the league this season.