Preview: Reims vs. Strasbourg - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts have caught the eye under Will Still this season, but are faltering as the race for Europe intensifies.

Match preview

Last week's heavy 3-0 defeat away to Rennes was Reims' first on the road under Still, and it has greatly damaged their hopes of reaching Europe.

With the Coupe de France final being contested by two sides near the bottom, sixth place will now not grant a route into Europe, making Reims' task even more difficult.

They enter the weekend eight points adrift of Lille in fifth who occupy the Europa Conference League spot in the Ligue 1 standings.

A recent drop in form has resulted in their European dreams fading, as Still's side have lost two of their last four games, after going on an incredible 19-game unbeaten run.

Facing Strasbourg at home may be the perfect tonic to get Reims back on track though, as they are unbeaten in 16 meetings with the Alsace-based club at the Stade Auguste-Delaune.

Strasbourg start the weekend in the bottom four and must put an end to that unwanted record here if they are to move clear of it this weekend.

They remain two points from safety despite a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Ajaccio last weekend.

However, new manager Frederic Antonetti is still yet to win an away game since taking charge, picking up just two points from a possible 12, conceding nine goals.

The team has struggled against top-half opposition this season too, as just one of their six wins has come against a side in the top 10 - Lyon back in January.

Despite not keeping a clean sheet in 16 Ligue 1 outings, Strasbourg are boosted by the fact they have goalscorers in their team, with Habib Diallo and Kevin Gameiro set to play a crucial role in whether they survive or not.

With the bottom three now someway adrift, there appears to be a four-horse race between Strasbourg, Brest, Nantes and Auxerre to avoid the final relegation spot.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

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L

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D

L

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

L

D

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W

Team News

Marshall Munetsi will be suspended for Reims after picking up a fifth booking of the season last weekend.

However, they will welcome back midfield duo Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa who served respective bans last week.

Noah Holm remains out but Dion Lopy did return from injury to play 45 minutes at Rennes last week.

Diallo is back from suspension and Strasbourg's 15-goal man should return to the starting XI despite winning without him against Ajaccio.

Fellow attacker Yuito Suzuki scored on his debut in European club football last weekend, netting just 14 minutes after coming off the bench to seal their win.

Antonetti will remain without Dimitri Lienard and Gerzino Nyamsi until May, while backup keeper Eiji Kawashima is slightly closer to a comeback.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Cajuste, Matusiwa, Zeneli; Ito, Balogun, Flips

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Guilbert, Perrin, Djiku, Doukoure, Sobol; Bellegarde, Aholou, Sanson; Diallo, Gameiro

We say: Reims 1-1 Strasbourg

Reims cannot afford to sit back and attempt to remain solid given their current predicament, as Europe will slip away if they do not get back to winning ways.

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