Reims vs Lens prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-17 16:05.
For the first time this season, Reims have gone three Ligue 1 games without a win (D1, L2) following last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Lorient. When adding into the equation the hosts’ loss in the cup to Sochaux during that time, they now haven’t won for over a month (D1, L3), though at least manager Will Still is able to call on those who have returned from international duty ahead of this fixture, whilst their injury problems have significantly lessened in recent weeks too.
After the club decided to limit their activity during the latest January transfer window, they’ve subsequently dropped into a mid-table position, but they’re still within range of European qualification ahead of this matchday. That said, after going two home league matches without a win (D1, L1), the Red and Whites will have to get back to their best here in order to avoid back-to-back Ligue 1 defeats on home soil in the same season for the first time since the end of the 2021/22 campaign!
Looking to inflict more damage on their opponents, Lens are five points up on Reims having won their last three league fixtures, while conceding just once in the process. Quickly back in action after Thursday’s night’s Europa League knockout round play-off against Freiburg (D 0-0), Franck Haise’s side should be feeling confident, as just one of their six league defeats this term came against a side now below them in the table.
As Lens haven’t lost a H2H since their 2020/21 return to the top flight (W4, D3), this seems a good chance to build on their excellent recent league form on the road (W4, D3, L1). With seven of those fixtures also yielding a clean sheet, defence has been the bedrock of the Blood and Gold’s success, although four scoring blanks in those outings highlights a lack of penetration upfront on their travels at times.
Key battle: Reims defender Yunis Abdelhamid has scored two of his three goals this term between the 70th and 80th minute, but he’ll be busy here trying to stop Lens’ Florian Sotoca adding to the goal he scored against Strasbourg at the weekend (W 3-1), his third in a row between the 55th and 75th minute.
Hot stat: There’s been just one goalless half across the last seven H2Hs.