Lille vs Reims Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Lille head into the final day of the season still pushing for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification as they welcome Stade de Reims to Stade Pierre-Mauroy this weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lille preview: In the dog fight
Lille begin the final match day of the campaign sitting outside of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots on goal difference below Nice, but above Strasbourg on goal difference, too, after an ill-timed defeat last weekend.
The northerners, with Bruno Genesio at the helm, went away to Stade Brest at Stade Francis-Le Ble last weekend and suffered a 2-0 loss due to goals from Ludovic Ajorque and Kamory Doumbia. That result ended a four-match unbeaten run of form in Ligue 1.
Reims preview: Still not safe
Stade de Reims head into the final day of the campaign not yet safe of relegation as they sit just a couple of points and places above third-from-bottom Le Havre in the relegation playoff place with Le Havre facing Strasbourg and Nantes, level with Reims, taking on Montpellier.
Reims have been much-improved since the appointment of Samba Diawara and they have the Coupe de France final against Paris Saint-Germain to prepare for for next weekend but they come into this on the back of a 2-0 loss at home to relegated Saint-Etienne.
Lille team news: Bakker a doubt
Lille wing-back Mitchel Bakker is a major injury doubt for the hosts this weekend. They have a few confirmed absentees, too, such as defensive duo Samuel Umtiti and Tiago Santos as well as attackers Ethan Mbappe and Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Chevalier; Meunier, Mandi, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Bakker, Mukau, Bentaleb, Haraldsson; Fernandez-Pardo, David
Unavailable: Umtiti (Injured), Santos (Injured), Mbappe (Injured), Zhegrova (Injured)
Questionable: Bakker (Injured)
Reims team news: Nakamura suspended
Japan international attacking midfielder Keito Nakamura is unavailable for this weekend’s trip to Lille due to suspension. They also have some long-term injury absentees such as Reda Khadra and Mohamed Daramy.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Diouf; Kipre, Okumu, Gbane; Sekine, Atangana, Kone, Sergio Akieme; Tia, Ito; Pefok
Unavailable: Khadra (Injured), Nakamura (Suspended), Daramy (Injured)
Questionable: Fofana (Injured)
Lille vs Reims prediction
Lille will be expected to get on the front foot here but that is not the way their style is set up. Bruno Genesio is a cautious manager with a possession-dominant approach looking to control the game and their opposition. That will suit Reims as they know that a point will be enough to stay up due to their superior goal difference over Le Havre. Lille do remain favourites with their home advantage but it is expected to be a low-scoring encounter up in the north of France.
Lille vs Reims tip: Lille to win & under 3.5 goals
