RC Lens come from the former mining region of northern France, and their Stade Bollaert-Delelis regularly draws crowds larger than the town's population. Lens won their only French title in 1998 and have long been admired for one of the country's most passionate fan bases. After years in Ligue 2, the club returned to the top flight in 2020 and finished second in 2023, qualifying for the Champions League.
