Lille vs Reims prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-01-01 16:00.
With five wins from their last seven Ligue 1 outings, Lille’s assault on the top-five is firmly underway. A 2-0 victory over Clermont on Wednesday moved them to within touching distance of fifth spot and if results elsewhere go their way, a win against Reims could see them end the round inside the European places for the first time since Ligue 1’s opening matchday.
Needing a win to stand a chance of achieving that feat, the visit of Reims is perhaps timely seeing Lille have secured victory in four of the last five Ligue 1 home H2Hs (D1). Only one of those games saw Lille keep a clean sheet, which is somewhat in keeping with their home form this season, where only two sides have conceded more home league goals than their 15 ahead of the round.
That poor record on Lille turf ought not to concern Reims too much as they arrive on the back of an eight-match unbeaten league run (W3, D5), their longest since April 2021, culminating in a 3-1 win against Rennes on Thursday. You’d have to go back as far as September for the last time Reims tasted league defeat, though the fact most of those games have been draws ensures that despite sitting in the consummate safety of mid-table, they find themselves closer to the bottom three than the European places.
The unbeaten run highlights a remarkable turnaround for Reims, who found themselves in the relegation zone as recently as matchday nine. It’s also an incredible feat for coach William Still, whose rise to footballing fame can be traced back to coaching Preston North End’s Under 14’s, as he now looks to boost his burgeoning reputation by overseeing his first away league win in charge of Reims.
Players to watch: Lille’s Angel Gomes stepped up against Clermont by scoring his second goal of the season, both of which were decisive second-half strikes in victories. Also influential in his last outing, Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun scored his tenth league goal of the season for Reims, netting the game’s opener on his last five goalscoring appearances.
Hot stat: Only one of Lille’s eight home league games this season has been level at the break (HT: W5, L2), a joint-league low ahead of the round.