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

While just one point separates the teams in the middle of the Ligue 1 table, both have been in good form since the World Cup break and have their sights fixed firmly on continuing to climb the table.

Match preview

It is now 16 games and more than five months since Reims last tasted defeat in Ligue 1, with Will Still forging a dream start to his fairytale managerial career.

Reims are still being fined for every game Still takes charge of due to the fact that he is yet to complete his coaching badges, but it is proving to be money well spent for the French club.

Last weekend's goalless draw with Nice means that the 30-year-old manager is now only the second coach in Ligue 1 history to remain unbeaten in each of his first 14 games in the competition, after only Champions League-winning former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel.

Reims as a team are now unbeaten in 16 top-flight outings, which is their best-ever run and the longest ongoing streak from any team in Europe's top-five leagues.

The fact that 10 of those matches have ended all square means that The Red and Whites' ascent up the Ligue 1 table has been a little slower than might be expected for a team on such a run, but at home they have had no such problems turning one point into three.

Reims have won five of their last six outings in front of their own fans, equalling their tally of home wins from the whole of last season during that run alone.

Home or away, since the World Cup Reims have the fourth-best record in Ligue 1, and defensively they have significantly improved too, keeping clean sheets in their last three games; only Schalke 04, who are on an unprecedented run of four straight Bundesliga 0-0 draws, are currently enjoying a longer run of not conceding in Europe's top-five leagues.

That record is likely to be tested by a Toulouse side that have scored in each of their last 10 games - a run which stretches back to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Monaco at the start of November.

Toulouse last had a longer scoring streak in the league all the way back in 1986, and across all competitions that run improves to 13 matches, including a seven-goal and a five-goal haul.

While Reims would be fourth in a post-World Cup table, Philippe Montanier's men would be just behind them in fifth, and in the full-season Ligue 1 standings they could leapfrog their hosts and move into the top 10 with a victory on Sunday.

A 3-2 home defeat to Montpellier last weekend halted their progress following back-to-back 3-1 wins - including a Coupe de France triumph over Reims - but they have not lost successive games since returning from the World Cup.

Branco van den Boomen's five goals and seven assists from midfield have been a particular bright spot in Toulouse's season, as have the nine goals plundered by forward Thijs Dallinga after his move from Excelsior Rotterdam in the summer.

Dallinga's goal against Marseille last weekend was his sixth in Ligue 1 already this calendar year, a tally only Monaco's Wissam Ben Yedder can better.

Toulouse have beaten Reims twice already this season, knocking them out of the Coupe de France earlier this month and winning 1-0 in the league in September.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

D

D

W

D

W

D

Reims form (all competitions):

D

W

D

L

W

D

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

L

W

L

Toulouse form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

L

Team News

Reims will be without midfielder Marshall Munetsi and defender Emmanuel Agbadou on Sunday as the pair are struggling with back and thigh injuries, respectively.

Agbadou's absence means that Cheick Keita will play at the heart of the Reims defence alongside club captain Yunis Abdelhamid.

Dion Lopy will take Munetsi's place in midfield next to Azor Matusiwa, whilst Junya Ito, Alexis Flips and Myziane Maolida will support Folarin Balogun in attack.

Arsenal loanee Balogun has been pivotal for Reims this season - the striker is the joint-top goalscorer in Ligue 1 with 15 goals.

Toulouse will be missing Moussa Diarra against Reims as he is unwell, so Gabriel Suazo will keep his place at left-back.

Centre-forward Rhys Healey remains sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury, so Dallinga will continue in the lone striker role in Montanier's 4-1-4-1 system.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Foket, Keita, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Lopy, Matusiwa; Ito, Flips, Maolida; Balogun

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Spierings; Aboukhlal, Dejaegere, Van den Boomen, Ratao;

Dallinga

We say: Reims 1-0 Toulouse

With Folarin Balogun in such red-hot form, Reims will feel confident going into any game at the moment. The 21-year-old striker may well be the difference between two evenly-matched teams, so we are backing the hosts to gain revenge for their cup exit earlier this month.

Previews by email