Reims will welcome Lille to the Stade Auguste Delaune this weekend with the away side still sitting inside the European spots just as Will Still's men continue to plummet down the Ligue 1 table after such an excellent run of form earlier in the year.
Still’s side were grabbing the headlines back at the start of 2023 with the club going on a long unbeaten run that saw them move from the bottom half of the table and into the fight for a spot in the Europa Conference League.
🔜 J-3 avant #SDRLOSC pic.twitter.com/XDq0lg4lwI— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) May 3, 2023
🔜 J-3 avant #SDRLOSC pic.twitter.com/XDq0lg4lwI
Now, however, they have moved down into 11th after a poor run of form and they now sit 12 points adrift of that Europa Conference League position where Lille are currently sitting.
Reims have still only lost eight times in Ligue 1 this season and three of those have been in a row recently. The club would lose to Rennes 3-0 away from home before a 2-0 home defeat to Strasbourg. Last time out, Reims would lose 1-0 away to Clermont Foot.
Because of the 12-point gap on Lille and how there are just 15 points left to play for, it means Reims will potentially see an end to their hopes of getting into Europe for next season if they lose here.
Prior to this losing run, Still's men drew with Best at home and beat Nantes 3-0 away from home, which was the last time they picked up points in Ligue 1.
Lille defeated Ajaccio 3-0 in their last outing. Andre Gomes scored twice that day alongside a goal from Remy Cabella, as the club scored all three goals inside 37 minutes.
Auxerre also drew 1-1 with them before that, and it's only been a month since they lost to the already-relegated last-placed Angers. Lille did beat Montpellier during this time as well.
They will still be eying up a spot in fourth and above Monaco this season, as the 2020/21 champions sit adrift of them just two points, while they are 10 behind Lens in third. A return to the Champions League is incredibly unlikely.
Earlier in the season, these two drew 1-1 with Jens Cajuste scoring late on to equalise after a first half Jonathan David goal.
Forbet predicts an away win here with Lille set to register their 18th win of the season with just eight losses on the board too. Forebet also predicts the game to see under 2.5 goals.