Two sides who made contrasting starts to the new season go head to head in Ligue 1 this weekend as Marseille travel to Stade Auguste Delaune to face Reims.
The home side opened the campaign with a win over Bordeaux, while Marseille are looking for a new manager after losing their first fixture of the season.
Reims
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Reims, who finished 15th in the French top flight last term, got their season off to a winning start last weekend, coming from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over Bordeaux.
Despite struggling at times last season, Olivier Guegan has not made many new additions to his squad over the summer, bringing in only midfielder Frederick Bulot and Hamari Traore, who both arrived from Belgian clubs. However, last season's top scorer striker Benjamin Makoundjo has moved on to Lorient.
Reims had a difficult finish to the campaign last season after sitting mid-table throughout the first half of the year, ultimately resulting in a change of manager and a fight to avoid relegation in the final few matches.
This weekend's hosts have been handed a difficult fixture list to start the 2015-16 season, with meetings against three of last season's top six in the first six matches, including Sunday's visit from the side that were fourth in 2014-15.
Guegan will be hoping that his side put in some stronger defensive performances this year. Last season they let in 66 goals, more than any other side in the division, while keeping just nine clean sheets.
It was their attack that kept the club in Ligue 1 last season though, scoring 47 goals in total, which was the same as sixth-placed Bordeaux. Caen were the only side that did not qualify for Europe to score more than Reims in the league last term.
Recent form: LLWWLW
Recent form (all competitions): WLDLWW
Marseille
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Following Marseille's 1-0 defeat to Caen in their first outing of the season, manager Marcelo Bielsa handed in his resignation, despite leading the side to a fourth-place finish in the league season, which was his first year at the club.
His departure means that assistant manager Franck Passi will be in charge of the first team this weekend while a full-time replacement is appointed. A number of high-profile names have been linked with the post, including former Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and ex-Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri.
Whoever does take over at Stade Velodrome will have a chance to make an impression early on, as the team are due to play Troyes, Guingamp and Bastia over the next couple of weeks. They will not face another side that finished in the top six last year until they host Lyon on September 19.
There have been a host of departures from Marseille over the summer, with regular first-team players Andre Ayew, Dimitri Payet, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Giannelli Imbula among those to have moved on.
However, the club has not been splashing the cash to get new players in, with Abou Diaby and Lassana Diarra both coming in on frees, while Lucas Ocampos is the costliest new purchase at £4.9m.
Marseille will be looking to rediscover their form in front of goal from last season, having averaged two goals per match in the league in the 2014-15 campaign, which was only bettered by champions Paris Saint-Germain. The team did show signs of that level of potency in pre-season, netting five goals in two of their five friendlies, while beating Italian champions Juventus 2-0 in their final fixture before the new season.
Recent form: LWWWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WLWLWL
Team News
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Former Arsenal man Abou Diaby is unlikely to feature this weekend, having only made his first appearance in training earlier this week. The club are not yet sure how long it will be before the oft-injured midfielder is ready to play.
Lassana Diarra and Javi Manquillo are still to make their first appearances for Marseille as well, but they are also lacking match fitness so will most likely sit out on Sunday.
The home side have a number of players carrying knocks, including strikers Diego and Odair Fortes, while defender Antoine Conte is still recovering from a knee injury.
Theoson Siebatcheu may have done enough to earn a place in the starting lineup up this time out though, having come off the bench last weekend to score the winner.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Agassa, Signorino, Mandi, Weber, Traore, Devaux, Oniangue, De Preville, Bulot, Siebatcheu, Ngog
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Mandanda, Rekik, Sparagna, Mendy, Dja Djedje, Sarr, Thauvin, Alessandrini, Ocampos, Barrada, Batshuayi
Head To Head
Reims had contrasting fortunes against Marseille last season, holding the side to a 2-2 draw at Stade Velodrome, after suffering a 5-0 thrashing at home earlier in the campaign.
The home side have only beaten Marseille once in their seven previous meetings though, securing a 3-2 victory away from home during the 2013-14 season.
Since their first meeting in 2012, Marseille have won three matches and drawn three times.
We say: Reims 2-3 Marseille
Marseille will be desperate to put last week's loss behind them, and have never lost in an away match against Reims. Fixtures between these two sides do tend to be high scoring, but the visitors' strong goal-scoring form in pre-season could just give them the edge.
Sian Cowper
