Reimsvs.Nice

The visitors are currently fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Lille, while Reims occupy ninth, level on points with eighth-placed Rennes on the same number of matches (27).

Match preview

Reims will bring a three-game unbeaten run into Sunday's contest, having picked up five points from their last three matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Metz and Lyon.

Will Still's side have actually only lost one of their last six league games, and a total of 39 points has left them ninth in the table, level on points with eighth-placed Rennes.

Reims are only three points behind sixth-placed Lens and four from Nice in fifth, so European football for next season is a possibility if they are able to find some consistency in the coming weeks.

Sixth would bring qualification for the Conference League playoff round, while fifth, which Nice occupy, would mean qualification for the group stage of the Europa League.

Reims have been inconsistent at home this season, picking up 20 points from 13 matches, while Nice have gathered 18 points from their 13 games away from their own stadium in 2023-24.

Nice, meanwhile, are in the mix for a Champions League finish in France's top flight, currently sitting fifth in the table, three points behind fourth-placed Lille and six from Monaco in third.

Fourth in Ligue 1 would bring a spot in the Champions League third qualifying round, with the top three in the division qualifying automatically for the group stage of the tournament.

Les Aiglons, who finished ninth in Ligue 1 last season, have won 12, drawn seven and lost eight of their 27 league games this term to collect 43 points.

Francesco Farioli's side have struggled for results of late, only winning one of their last eight matches at this level of football, which proved to be a 3-1 success over Lens before the international break.

Nice returned to action with a 2-1 home defeat to Nantes last weekend, but they are unbeaten against Reims in France's top flight since August 2018 and recorded a 2-1 victory in the reverse game earlier this term.

Reims Ligue 1 form:

D

W

L

D

W

D

Nice Ligue 1 form:

L

D

L

L

W

L

Nice form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

L

Team News

Reims will be without the services of four first-team players for this match, with Mohammed Daramy, Adama Bojang, Teddy Teuma and Benjamin Stambouli unavailable for selection.

Teuma's absence is a big one considering that he is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with six, with Oumar Diakite next in the list on five.

Diakite is again set to lead the line for Still's side this weekend, while Reda Khadra should retain his position as the number 10 for the clash with Nice.

The visitors have three players on the sidelines through injury, with Morgan Sanson, Sofiane Diop and Youssouf Ndayishimiye not available for this contest.

Nice will also be without the services of Teddy Boulhendi through suspension, but there will be returns to the starting side for Khephren Thuram and Pablo Rosario, who were banned last time out.

Terem Moffi has scored 10 times in the league during a positive campaign, and the 24-year-old will again lead the Nice line in this match.

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Agbadou, Abdelhamid, Okumu, Akieme; Ito, Edoa, Munetsi, Nakamura; Khadra; Diakite

Nice possible starting lineup:

Bulka; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Perraud; Louchet, Rosario, Thuram; Cho, Moffi, Boga

We say: Reims 1-1 Nice

Six of the last eight meetings between these two sides in France's top flight have finished level, and we can see the points being shared once again here. It finished 0-0 in the corresponding game last term, but we are expecting both to find the back of the net in this contest.

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