Preview: Reims vs. Le Havre - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts were defeated by a two-goal margin at Lens on the weekend, whilst Le Havre managed to secure all three points against a Nice side who are chasing the French crown.

Match preview

Reims have suffered back-to-back losses for the first time in Ligue during the 2023-24 campaign after a 2-0 defeat at Stade Bollaert-Delelis against a resurgent Lens side, who managed to extend their impressive winning run in the French top flight to 11 matches as the busy festive schedule continues.

Strikes either side of the half-time interval from Wesley Said and Oscar Cortes secured all three points for Franck Haise's men, whilst simultaneously condemning Reims to successive defeats in Ligue for the first time since the final two games of the 2022-23 campaign in June.

There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the future of head coach Will Still over the past fortnight, with Championship side Sunderland reportedly keen on bringing the Englishman to the Stadium of Light following the sacking of Tony Mowbray, however the 31-year-old has recently confirmed his commitment to the project in France.

Les Rouges et Blancs are targeting a spot in the European positions after a respectable 11th-placed finish last season, and Still's side are currently occupying eighth place in the Ligue 1 standings, three points behind Gennaro Gattuso's Marseille in sixth ahead of a midweek round of fixtures.

Without the attacking powers of Folarin Balogun following the striker's return to parent club Arsenal in the summer, Reims have had to share the goalscoring responsibility around their ranks during the opening months of the campaign, although Malta international Teddy Teuma leads the way with four league goals.

Le Havre brought an end to their four-game winless run in Ligue 1 with a sensational 3-1 victory over title challengers Nice at Stade Oceane on Saturday afternoon, with a brace from Emmanuel Sabbi and a Mohamed Bayo penalty putting the hosts into an extraordinary three-goal lead after 51 minutes.

An onslaught of attacking pressure followed from second-placed OGC, however Francesco Farioli's men were only able to score the single consolation through midfielder Tom Louchet in the final stages of the contest, meaning the visitors tasted defeat for the only the second time in the league this term.

After defeats to perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain and strugglers Strasbourg at the start of December, Saturday's success over Nice was a desperately-needed triumph which moved Le Havre up to 10th in the Ligue 1 table, six points ahead of 16th-placed Lyon ahead of Wednesday night.

Luka Elsner's men built their Ligue 1 title-winning campaign last season from a formidable defensive base - conceding just 19 times in 38 second-tier matches - and LH have continued in a similar vein this time around against tougher opponents, allowing just 18 goals in 16 matches, fewer than any other side outside of the top seven.

Alongside Guinea international Bayo, Frenchman Nabil Alioui is leading Le Havre's goalscoring charts with four strikes, meaning the 24-year-old is only two goals away from equalling his tally of six during the 2022-23 Ligue 2 season.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

W

L

L

W

L

L

Le Havre Ligue 1 form:

W

D

D

L

L

W

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Team News

Reims remain without the services of Manchester City loanee Josh Wilson-Esbrand, who dislocated his shoulder in November and will not return until the New Year.

Centre-back Yunis Abdelhamid is suspended for the visit of Le Havre, meaning head coach Still will have to select a new defensive partner for Joseph Okumu.

Full-back Maxime Busi will be sidelined until January after suffering a hamstring tear in the warm-up before the match at Nice on December 10, so Emmanuel Agbadou should continue on the right side of the hosts' backline.

Le Havre will be unable to call on winger Samuel Grandsir, who received a straight red card for an altercation with Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo on the weekend.

The absence of the left winger almost guarantees that American Sabbi and Josue Casimir will retain their spots on the flanks, looking to provide adequate service for striker Bayo.

Joint-top goalscorer Alioui was an unused substitute last time out but could be utilised here, whilst ex-West Ham United and Nottingham Forest attacker Andre Ayew will be pushing for a start.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Agbadou, Okumu, Mbala, De Smet; Khadra, Matusiwa, Teuma; Ito, Salama, O Diakite

Le Havre possible starting lineup:

Desmas; Sangante, Kinkoue, Lloris, Operi; Targhalline, Casimir, Nego, Kechta, Sabbi; Bayo

We say: Reims 2-1 Le Havre

Reims have been on the wrong side of fine margins in their losses at Nice and Lens recently, however we are expecting the hosts' fortunes to turn on Wednesday night.

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