Reims vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
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It is the Will Still derby at Stade Auguste Delaune with Stade de Reims, now coached by Slovenian boss Luka Elsner, taking on Will Still’s newest club, Lens, in an intriguing clash in terms of potentially pushing for a top six finish this season.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 29th November, 2024: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Reims Preview: Entertaining Reims
Slovenian coach Luka Elsner departed Le Havre over the summer to replace Will Still in charge of Stade de Reims and things have started quite well for the home team as they challenge for a potential top six finish and UEFA Europa Conference League qualification after relatively heavy spending in the summer of 2023 when Still was at the club.
Reims come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Olympique Lyonnais in their most recent outing at the weekend thanks to an equaliser from Oumar Diakite cancelling out Rayan Cherki’s first-half opener. They have steadied the ship after three successive defeats before the international break and remain in a good position.
Lens Preview: Frustrated Lens
Following the departure of Franck Haise to Nice, Lens took the decision to appoint Will Still, who departed Reims with a couple of matches left of the 2023/24 season as they sank into the middle-of-the-table after that aforementioned heavy spending in which they had planned to challenge for UEFA competition qualification.
The northerners have continued with Still’s quite defensive and frustrated style of football, scoring just 13 goals in 12 matches so far this season. After a solid and steady start to the campaign, they have since drifted with their 3-1 loss at home to Olympique de Marseille at the weekend meaning they have now lost three of their last four matches.
Reims Team News: Return of Khadra
Former Brighton and Hove Albion winger Reda Khadra has been injured throughout this season but he has now reached full fitness and is readying himself to make the starting eleven.
They do have a couple of long-term issues still remaining, though, with Kenya international Joseph Okumu remaining sidelined alongside former Ajax forward Mohamed Daramy.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Diouf; Sangui, Kipre, De Smet, Sergio Akieme; Atangana, Am. Kone; Ito, Munetsi, Nakamura; Diakite
Unavailable: Okumu (Injured), Busi (Injured), Ab. Kone (Injured), Daramy (Injured)
Questionable:
Lens Team News: Similar issues as before
Lens have no fresh injury concerns but a few pre-existing issues that have blighted them throughout the season such as injuries too Ruben Aguilar and Jimmy Cabot.
As well as those defensive issues, summer signing Martin Satriano has an ACL injury with fellow attacker Wesley Said also sidelined for the visitors.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Samba; Sarr, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Thomasson, Ojediran, Deiver Machado; Sotoca, Costa; Nzola
Unavailable: Aguilar (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Bane (Injured), Satriano (Injured), Said (Injured)
Questionable:
Reims vs Lens Prediction
Reims will believe they have improved a lot over this season as they try and make themselves a bit more effective and efficient at either end of the pitch. They have been entertaining to watch, too, with only five teams scoring more goals than them so far this season. Lens are a little steadier and more solid and play a little more reactively than Reims but Reims shouldn’t find too much difficulty against out of form opposition so backing the hosts looks the way to go for this one.
Reims vs Lens Tip: Double chance – Reims to win or draw