Reims vs Toulouse prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-25 14:00.
In this battle of neck-and-neck mid-table dwellers, Reims will have vengeance firmly in mind, with a 3-1 cup defeat to Toulouse just over a fortnight ago marking their sole blot on an otherwise unbeaten 2023 so far (W5, D5). They also enter this round after completing a first hat-trick of Ligue 1 shutouts since early 2021, further underlining their progress under manager Will Still.
Nothing has highlighted this more than their near-perfect home league record since the end of the World Cup (W3, D1). As if that wasn’t enough to rekindle their slender hopes of a first appearance in any European competition proper for 60 years, Reims also have a perfect return from the last four LIgue 1 home games to see them net the opener.
Unlike Reims, Toulouse can still qualify for Europe via a maiden Coupe de France win in the club’s 53-year history. But if they are to keep their own hopes of a high finish alive, and get a fourth win in five trips to the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, they’ll need to address the mistakes that saw a third-minute lead against Marseille turn into a loss last Sunday.
Neutral fans at least would have been impressed by the drama of their sixth straight match to see both teams score (W4, L2). And coach Philippe Montanier could be a lucky charm if this is another high-octane affair, given that Reims rank as his second-favourite opposition (1.64 pts average per game) amongst five clubs he’s faced at least 14 times from the dugout (W7, D2, L5).
Players to watch: If Montanier is a charm against Reims, Folarin Balogun is a cheat code waiting to break it, netting nine (60%) of his joint-high 15 league goals this term under Football Manager game fanatic Still’s watchful eye. But any opener from him may be cancelled out by Zakaria Aboukhlal, who has netted the second match goal in each of Toulouse’s last two competitive wins.
Hot streak: Across all tiers, none of the 14 prior league H2Hs held this century have seen both teams score before half-time.