Preview: Reims vs. Montpellier HSC - prediction, team news, lineups

Eleventh-placed Reims lead 12th-placed Montpellier by four points ahead of the season finale, with both sides assured of a mid-table finish.

Match preview

There was a time earlier in the season when it looked as though Reims would challenge for a European place, with 30-year-old manager Will Still overseeing a mammoth 19-match unbeaten streak between October and March.

Since then, however, the Red and Whites have recorded two wins, two draws and six losses in the league, taking eight points from a possible 30 while sliding down the table.

Reims head into Saturday's clash on the back of a 3-0 defeat at Lyon, conceding two goals in the opening nine minutes at Groupama Stadium, with Emmanuel Agbadou's 54th-minute red card making life even harder for the visitors.

As a result, Still's men have now lost five of their previous seven games, with successive defeats against Rennes, Strasbourg and Clermont preceding a 2-1 loss at Champions League-bound Lens.

That said, Reims can take confidence from their recent record at the Stade Auguste-Delaune, having lost just two of their last 14 home league matches, with a 1-0 victory over Lille coming last month.

Thanks to a quick-fire brace from Teji Savanier, Montpellier found themselves 2-0 up after 17 minutes last weekend, only for Nice to score three second-half goals to snatch the victory at the Stade de la Mosson.

It is worth remembering that a similar situation occurred against Lyon last month, as Elye Wahi netted four goals to give Montpellier a 4-1 lead at Groupama Stadium before the hosts turned to game on its head to win 5-4.

Still, La Paillade have managed to notch three clean-sheet victories in their previous six outings, with a 1-0 win over Rennes and a 4-0 thrashing of Monaco preceding a 3-0 victory at Nantes.

When you look at the bigger picture, Michel Der Zakarian's men have won eight of their last 15 league encounters, keeping the club clear of relegation danger while guaranteeing mid-table security.

Having won two of their last three away league outings - and four of their previous seven - Montpellier will be hopeful of picking up another positive result on the road as they aim to finish the campaign on a high.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

L

L

W

L

D

L

Montpellier HSC Ligue 1 form:

W

W

L

D

W

L

Team News

Reims will be without the suspended Emmanuel Agbadou on Saturday after the defender picked up a red card last time out, so Thibault De Smet is expected to come into the three-man backline.

The Red and Whites also have a number of players out injured, with Kamory Doumbia, Alexandre Olliero, Nicolas Penneteau and Mitchell van Bergen on the sidelines.

Top scorer Folarin Balogun will continue to lead the line for the hosts, having netted 20 goals in 36 Ligue 1 outings this season, while Japanese forward Junya Ito will join Balogun in attack.

As for Montpellier, they will be without rising star Khalil Fayad for the final game of the season as the 18-year-old midfielder continues to recover from injury.

With 17 goals and six assists under his belt this term, Elye Wahi is expected to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench last time out, while Arnaud Nordin will aim to enhance his record of eight goals and five assists.

Jordan Ferri and Joris Chotard should resume their partnership in defensive midfield, allowing experienced forward Wahbi Khazri to support the attack.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Foket, Munetsi, De Smet; Busi, Atangana, Matusiwa, Cajuste, Flips; Ito, Balogun

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:

Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Esteve, Sainte-Luce; Ferri, Chotard; Nordin, Savanier, Khazri; Wahi

We say: Reims 1-1 Montpellier HSC

Given that both sides enter the final day of the season in iffy form, we can see Reims and Montpellier sharing the spoils at the Stade Auguste-Delaune, with both teams bouncing back from penultimate-round losses.

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