Reims, who need a win to temporarily regain top spot in Ligue 1, are scheduled to travel to the Stade de la Mainau for a date with Strasbourg on Friday.

Last week, the Alsatian club beat Lyon 3-1 to maintain seventh place, but Les Saints et Ors lost 3-2 at home to Monaco, dropping them to second place.

match preview

On Sunday, we witnessed a solid performance at home from Strasbourg, bringing them closer to the European ranks.

Gary O’Neill’s side have won five of their last six games at the Stade de la Mainau, scoring multiple goals in the last two.

A win on Friday would move them provisionally into fifth place, ahead of Rennes and Lille, and move them into the Europa League spot on goal difference.

On the other hand, they recorded their third straight Ligue 1 victory at home on Friday, potentially extending their unbeaten run in the top flight to three games.

So far this season, they have yet to lose a competitive match with multiple goals scored, and have only dropped points on two of those occasions all season, both of which have come domestically.

Le Lachine have picked up points in two of the last four times they played Reims at home in the top flight, but their last win at the Stade de la Mainau was in 2022 (1-0).

One of the big surprises of matchday 23 of Ligue 1 was the game at the Stade Bolard-Dellerys, where Reims squandered a 2-0 lead and lost not only the game but also their top spot.

They will temporarily regain top spot on Friday and will surely avoid losing consecutive league defeats for the first time all season.

This week’s maximum point was their eighth away domestic win in this competition, equaling their total from last season.

Pierre Sarge’s side have been showing their strength in front of away goal recently, scoring a total of nine goals in their last three road games, including a 5-0 win over Paris FC last time out.

Dating back to last season, they have won 11 consecutive away domestic matches by scoring multiple goals, and have done so seven times this season.

Les Saints et Ores are unbeaten in their last seven league games against Strasbourg and have not conceded a goal in their last two games.

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

Strasbourg form (all competitions):

Lens league 1 form:

Lens shape (all sports):

team news

Emmanuel Emega will be ruled out of Friday’s game against Strasbourg due to a torn muscle fiber, while Sam Amo-Ameyo is being treated for a bruise and Maxi Oyedele is doubtful to play due to a muscle injury.

On Sunday, goals were scored by Martial Godo, Diego Moreira and Joaquín Panicelli, the latter making him second on Marseille’s Mason Greenwood (14 goals) with more than a dozen signings during the campaign.

At Lens Regis, Gurtner and Samson Baidou are still recovering from hamstring strains, Jonathan Gradit remains doubtful with a lower leg problem, Mamadou Sangare has a pelvic problem, Wesley Said is ill and could make a decision during the match, and Kylian Antonio is dealing with a foot injury.

Odessonne Edouard and Florian Thauvin scored in matchday 23, but against Les Monesgasc Robin Risser only conceded three goals in the last 30 minutes.

Strasbourg’s expected starting lineup:

Pender; Douay, Doucoure, Omobamidele, Chilwell. El Murabe, Barco. Moreira, Enciso, Godot. Panichelli

Lensable starting lineup:

Reiser; Selic, Ganiu, Sarr; Abdulhamid, Bulatovic, Tomasson, Udol. Tovin, Fofana. Edouard

We say: Strasbourg 1-1 lens

Both teams have plenty of opportunities to play and are highly motivated, but given their respective defensive capabilities, we think their chances will be valuable despite boasting deadly attacking threats.

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