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

The home side sit just two points behind fifth-placed Lille, while their visitors occupy 14th place, precariously positioned just two points above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Reims return to Ligue 1 action this weekend aiming to extend their positive run of form and build on an impressive first half to the campaign under manager Will Still.

Currently sixth after 19 games with 30 points on the board, having managed nine victories while suffering seven defeats, the hosts are enjoying their highest points tally at this stage of the campaign in the 21st century.

Four of those losses came in a five-match span between mid-November and mid-December, seeing Les Rouges et Blancs fall away from the leading pack, but they have bounced back in impressive fashion since, firstly returning to winning ways before Christmas with a 1-0 triumph over Le Havre thanks to Keito Nakamura's goal.

Then following a 3-0 Coupe de France triumph over Dinan Lehon, they returned to Ligue 1 action in a tough trip to Monaco and took three more points from a 3-1 victory, as Teddy Teuma and Reda Khadra scored either side of the interval before Azor Matusiwa put the game out of sight in injury time.

They returned to the Coupe de France but dropped out in disappointing fashion after a penalty shootout against third-tier Sochaux, before settling for a goalless draw in the league against Nantes last time out.

Toulouse, meanwhile, lost 2-0 to Lens as they also returned to Ligue 1 action, making it their second defeat in a row across all competitions, after also dropping out of the Coupe de France via a penalty shootout against third-tier Rouen.

Carles Martinez Novell's side are currently 14th in Ligue 1, with17 points from 19 games, one point off the relegation zone.

The Violets endured a 10-game winless run in the league to end 2023, and have won just one of their last 12 games in Ligue 1, which has seen them slip at a quick rate.

Toulouse head into this weekend's fixture looking to pick up a first win in three games against Reims.

After the win over Metz in their last trip, victory on Sunday would mark their first consecutive away wins in the top flight since April 2023.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

W

L

L

W

W

D

Reims form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

L

D

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

D

L

D

L

W

L

Toulouse form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

L

L

Team News

Reims continue to deal with a long list of enforced absences on Sunday, with Ibrahim Diakite, Oumar Diakite, Yunis Abdelhamid and Amir Richardson away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Junya Ito and Nakamura are with Japan at the Asian Cup.

Maxime Busi and Valentin Atangana are also sidelined with thigh and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Will Still will likely field the same starting XI from the draw against Nantes, with Reda Khadra leading the line again.

Toulouse will be without defender Logan Costa and Moussa Diarra, who are both away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cape Verde and Mali, respectively.

Frank Magri is also yet to make a return to the club after crashing out of the AFCON with Cameroon.

Zakaria Aboukhlal and Denis Genreau are also out of this fixture, as they nurse knee and groin injuries, respectively.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Foket, Okumu, Agbadou, De Smet; Edoa, Matusiwa, Teuma; Diakhon, Khadra, Daramy

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; Kamanzi, Mawissa Elebi, Nicolaisen, Suazo; Spierings, Casseres, Sierro; Donnum, Dallinga, Doennum

We say: Reims 2-1 Toulouse

Even with several key men away on international duty, Reims certainly have the quality in their side to get over the line on home turf on Sunday and should outclass their struggling visitors with confidence growing in the camp under Still.

Previews by email