Reims vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-03-01 16:00.
Coming into the round in eighth spot, Reims are afforded a great shot at closing the gap to the European places when fifth-placed Lille come to town. It was a near-perfect couple of days for Reims last weekend, who won 2-1 away at Le Havre and watched the four sides starting this round directly above them in the table drop points, boosting belief that next season they could play in Europe for only the second time in over 60 years.
That win against Le Havre was actually their only success from their last five league outings (D2, L2), a record which threatens to wreak havoc on their chances of competing on the continental stage. Recent home form remains a big part of why that record is so poor, with Reims yet to win a league game at the Stade Auguste Delaune in 2024 (D2, L1), but having taken a joint-high 20 top-flight home points against Lille in the 21st century, maybe their luck is about to change.
Given Lille travel on the back of a five-match winless away league run (D2, L3), they must be fearful that their misery against Reims will continue. Fortunately for Lille, their home form has been amongst the best in the division this season and has helped them challenge the top three, but even still, Reims were the only side to beat them in Ligue 1 on their own turf, so they travel with a psychological obstacle to overcome.
They’re now at risk of going five Ligue 1 H2Hs without victory against Reims for the first time in history (D1, L3), and they’ve been thrown the additional curveball here of their European campaign resuming in the days after this game. Whether they prioritise their Conference League last-16 tie remains to be seen, but given none of their last ten top-flight games have been won by the home side on the day, perhaps that it would be wise to go for the win here.
Players to watch: Reims’ Mohamed Daramy was at the double against Le Havre, with four of his five goals this term arriving after the hour mark. Daramy played with Lille’s Hákon Arnar Haraldsson at Copenhagen last season and the Icelandic forward opened his Ligue 1 account with the opener against Toulouse last weekend.
Hot stat: Lille have led five Ligue 1 away games at half-time this term, but only held on to win two (D2, L1).