Reims vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-05-05 17:00.
The honeymoon period looks to be over in 30-year-old Will Stillâs incredible debut as a Ligue 1 manager as he and his players continue to feel the force of a long 38-game season. A fortnight after he reportedly met with Tottenham officials in Switzerland, he is now wrestling with a run of three losses âto nilâ that has not only killed Reimsâ European ambitions, but threatens to detract from the enormity of his achievement so far.
Whilst all good things must come to an end, Reimsâ home faithful certainly would not have anticipated two losses from their last three Ligue 1 home outings (D1) after winning seven of their first eight league games at home under Stillâs stewardship. Perhaps he ought to buy his players some of the energy drinks that may have fuelled his all-night âFootball Managerâ sessions, for Reims have gone 1-0 down within the first ten minutes in four straight outings!
Lille needed less than 25 minutes for the first of three first-half goals at home to Ajaccio (3-0), securing a result that kept their top-four ambitions alive. Having conceded just one first-half goal across their last seven Ligue 1 games (W4, D2, L1), and sensing an opportunity after Monacoâs back-to-back losses opened the door to fourth place, they are likely to be fully focused for this game.
Itâs worth noting the visitors also kept Reims scoreless for nearly 80 minutes in the reverse H2H (D 1-1), but stepping up to the task of replicating that away from home could be a challenge. Lille have won just one of their last five Ligue 1 away trips (D2, L2), though successes at Rennes (3-1), cup winners Toulouse (2-0) and Clermont (2-0) since Christmas should remind them they can match it when visiting a strong opposition.
Players to watch: Reims midfielder Jens Cajuste was their only goalscorer both in the reverse H2H and in their most recent home league win, while RĂ©my Cabellaâs seven goals for Lille this season all came in victories.
Hot stat: Reims have won just two of their 15 starts as pre-match outsiders (D9, L4) this Ligue 1 season.