Reims will host Lille with three points separating both teams in the Ligue 1. The previous time these two teams faced off, Will Still’s team prevailed 2-1 over Le Havre. Les Dogues lost 3-1 to Toulouse.
Preview (Reims vs. Lille)
Reims had attempted five times and failed to build on their stunning 3-1 victory over Monaco in the top division. They had only taken two of the twelve available points in the top division. They had also suffered heartbreak in the Coupe de France against Sochaux due to penalties. However, during last weekend’s match against Le Havre, the 22-year-old wing wizard Mohamed Daramy proved to be an inspired decision by Still, as the Danish youngster scored twice in injury time after Abdoulaye Toure had levelled the score for the newly promoted team.
Les Rouges et Blancs’ push for the continental slots has been rekindled by Daramy’s valiant efforts. As of Saturday, the hosts are ranked seventh and have just two points separating them from Lens for a Europa Conference League qualification spot. However, struggling giants Marseille are still very much in the running. The Daramy-inspired Reims were unfazed by a red card given to Thomas Foket halfway through the second half. Their next task is to end a three-game home winless record that dates back to December 20. They defeated Le Havre 1-0.
But with ten victories already in the 2023–24 Ligue 1 season, Reims has won more games after 23 games of a campaign than they had since 1975–76 when they finished fifth and also had ten victories in as many games. Lille coach Fonseca got into hot water with Ligue 1 referees before leading his team to Toulouse’s Stadium Municipal base on February 25. Last weekend, he had nothing nice to say about the officials.
Team News
Reims right-back Foket will serve a one-game suspension this weekend due to his dismissal for two bookable offences during the team’s victory against Le Havre. This will force Still to make an unwelcome defensive change for Lille’s visit. The adolescent Therese Koudou, 19, was brought on to strengthen the rearguard last weekend and appears to be the front-runner to replace Foket, but Killian Prouchet, another teen, is a more obvious central alternative. Still is without Maxime Busi (thigh), Joseph Okumu (groyne), and Adama Bojang (knee). As a result, Daramy will almost probably return to the starting lineup, possibly replacing Reda Khadra.
In addition to Fonseca returning to the dugout after his suspension, Lille will also welcome back midfield veteran Benjamin Andre following his own yellow-card suspension; Nabil Bentaleb should make way for the captain. Nevertheless, before the loss to Toulouse, the visitors lost Remy Cabella (calf) and Tiago Morais (thigh) to new ailments. They joined Ivan Cavaleiro (groyne), Samuel Umtiti (knee), Andrej Ilic (foot), and Rafael Fernandes (muscle) on the sidelines. By the time Saturday’s match starts, Cavaleiro might have resumed team practice. Fonseca shouldn’t welcome any of his injured players back for the journey to Stade Auguste-Delaune.
Reims 1-1 Lille
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