Reims vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2022-12-28 18:00.
Ligue 1’s return after a break of over six weeks for the World Cup finds a number of teams looking to put distance between themselves and the newly-expanded relegation zone. One such team is Reims, who put together a superb sequence of seven matches unbeaten (W2, D5) before the mid-season break to alleviate their fears of dropping out of the top flight.
That run included Reims becoming just the second team to take something from runaway leaders PSG, so coach William Still and his side are unlikely to be intimidated by the visit of high-flying Rennes. This is a fixture that Reims have enjoyed hosting down the years as they boast a dominant home H2H record against the Brittany outfit in Ligue 1 (W18, D6, L6), while they’ve lost just once at any venue against them over the last eight contests (W5, D2), although that sole loss did come in the corresponding fixture here last season.
Rennes look extremely well-placed to start further correcting that record though with the feeling of losing becoming an increasingly distant memory. Bruno Génésio’s men last tasted defeat in August, with their current 17-game run (W11, D6) the third best unbeaten sequence in their history, subsequently ensuring them safe passage to the knockout stages of the Europa League as well as earning them a place in France's top three over Christmas.
Maintaining that spot in the Champions League places could depend on transforming their draws away from home into wins. Rennes have been victorious just twice on the road in Ligue 1 this term from seven games (D4, L1), with their ten points on the road accounting for less than a third of their overall total at this stage of the campaign (31).
Players to watch: Finally flourishing at senior level, Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is Reims’ top scorer this term with eight goals, three of which came beyond the 80th minute. He can’t match the goalscoring exploits of Martin Terrier though, as he’s scored 11 times in all competitions this term. Rennes have netted at least three times in each of his last four goalscoring appearances.
Hot stat: Reims have been awarded an astonishing eight red cards in Ligue 1 this season, three more than any other side.