Looking to distance themselves from an unthinkable relegation battle, Reims will welcome second-tier bound Le Havre to Stade Auguste-Delaune for a Ligue 1 contest on Sunday afternoon.

Les Rouges et Blancs are aiming to avoid three straight defeats in the top flight following a loss to Nice last time out, whilst Le Club Doyen are fighting to end a worrying losing run at the top table of French football.

Match preview

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Starting near the conclusion of November, Reims have endured a six-game winless run in the top flight of France, suffering back-to-back defeats against Saint-Etienne and Champions League-chasing Nice since returning from a much-needed winter break, meaning that Sunday's hosts have a slight chance of being dragged into a survival scrap.

For the first time since 2020, Les Rouges et Blancs secured a top-half finish in Ligue 1 during the 2023-24 campaign, although the recent collection of just three points from six contests has led to a serious decline in expectations around Stade Auguste-Delaune regarding the second half of the campaign.

Heading into this weekend's all-important clash with top-flight strugglers Le Havre, Reims are languishing down in 12th place in the Ligue 1 standings, eight points behind Lyon in the lowest of the European spots and only four points ahead of Saint-Etienne in the relegation playoffs.

Les Rouges et Blancs will need to drastically improve their form in front of their own supporters if they wish to equal their ninth-placed finish of last term this time around, with Sunday's hosts earning just nine points at their base - only Angers (7) and Le Havre (6) have managed fewer at their respective homes.

Experiencing a mixed opening six months of his tenure at Stade Auguste-Delaune, Luka Elsner enjoyed a success-laden two-year spell in charge of this weekend's opponents Le Havre, where he secured the Ligue 2 title and automatic promotion to the top flight during the 2022-23 season.

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After sealing their first-tier status by one position and three points during the 2023-24 campaign, Le Havre look set for another gruelling fight to avoid the drop during the current season, with Sunday's visitors failing to pick up the points required for comfort in Ligue 1.

Since the commencement of their festive schedule on December 1, Le Club Doyen have endured a six-game losing run across all competitions to derail their hopes of success this campaign, a spell which has included a highly-embarrassing Coupe de France exit at the hands of third-tier Stade Briochin just prior to Christmas.

Following their return from the mid-season break, Le Havre have suffered consecutive defeats as their top-flight woes continue, facing a 5-1 battering on the South Coast against Marseille on January 5 before narrowly falling to defeat at Stade Oceane versus Lens last Sunday.

Without a win or any points since the 2-0 victory at Nantes on November 24, Didier Digard's troops are currently occupying 17th spot in the Ligue 1 standings ahead of this weekend's trip to Reims, four points behind Les Canaris in the relative safety of 15th and three points in front of whipping boys Montpellier HSC.

It is not cruel to argue that Le Havre will be plying their trade in Ligue 2 next season should they fail to address their lack of ruthlessness in front of net, with midfielder Abdoulaye Toure the only player to score more than twice this season for a team who possess the poorest attacking record in the division.

Team News

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Reims remain without the services of attacker Reda Khadra, who is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Les Rouges et Blancs are also battling on without a full range of options in their engine room, with enforcer Yaya Fofana currently nursing an ankle issue.

Adding to Elsner's selection headache, fellow midfielder Amadou Kone is not expected back until next month because of a hamstring strain suffered at the beginning of January.

Amid an attacking crisis at Stade Oceane, Le Havre's leading marksman Toure has fallen victim to a broken rib, a problem which is set to keep him sidelined until February.

Le Club Doyen have made a move in the January transfer window in an attempt to solve their goalscoring issues, with striker Ahmed Hassan switching from Portuguese outfit Rio Ave.

Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Buta, Okumu, Kipre, Akieme; Teuma, Munetsi, Edoa; Ito, Nakamura, Diakite

Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Salmier, Kinkoue, Lloris, Zouaoui, Nego; Casimir, Ndiaye, Joujou, Sabbi; Ayew

We say: Reims 2-1 Le Havre

With their most recent Ligue 1 success coming against Le Havre all the way back in November, Reims will be desperate to repeat the trick on Sunday afternoon following a worrying string of results.

Le Club Doyen need to start throwing some punches in the top-tier survival scrap, although we feel that the visitors will be unable to do so at Stade Auguste-Delaune.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Carter White

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