Reims and Strasbourg will both be aiming to move out of the Ligue 1 relegation zone when they meet on Sunday.
Both sides come into the game having won in style away from home last weekend – Reims thrashing Montpellier 4-0 and Strasbourg beating Brest 3-0.
Match preview
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The two clubs were not expected to find themselves in trouble this season – when the 2019-20 campaign was curtailed, Reims were in sixth and Strasbourg only three points behind in 10th.
Boulaye Dia became the first player in 42 years to score a top-flight hat-trick for Les Rouges et Blancs as they defeated Montpellier.
However La Paillade did have two players sent off in the first half, making it somewhat easier for David Guion's side to assert their dominance.
Nonetheless, it was the first ray of light in a poor season so far for Reims that has seen them knocked out of the Europa League in the third qualifying round and go on a four-game losing streak in Ligue 1.
They will now seek a first home win of the campaign, having lost all three previous games at Stade Auguste-Delaune, scoring just one goal.
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Strasbourg's win over Brest was their first on the road in 2020-21, thanks to goals from Ludovic Ajorque, Habib Diallo and Kenny Lala.
It was a second goal in as many games for Diallo since joining from Metz at the start of the month and he already looks a smart addition.
At the other end of the pitch, only Brest and Dijon have conceded more goals than Strasbourg, leaving them with work to do at the back.
They will be without both manager Thierry Laurey and assistant manager Fabien Lefevre on Sunday as the pair have tested positive for coronavirus and must now self-isolate.
Reims Ligue 1 form: LLLDLW
Reims form (all competitions): LDLDLW
Strasbourg Ligue 1 form: LWLLLW
Team News
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As well as Laurey and Lefevre, Strasbourg midfielder Jean-Eudes Aholou is also COVID-positive so is unavailable for selection by interim boss Jean-Marc Kuentz.
Adrien Thomasson should come in to replace the Ivorian as the only change following such a comprehensive win last weekend.
Similarly, David Guion could stick with the same side that beat Montpellier in the hope that he has finally found the winning formula.
Anastasios Donis is available again after suspension, but Moreto Cassama and Xavier Chavalerin are both currently serving bans.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Foket, Faes, Abdelhamid, Smet; Cafaro, Munetsi, Berisha; Mbuku, Dia, Sierhuis
Strasbourg possible starting lineup:
Kamara; Lala, Simakan, Mitrovic, Djiku, Caci; Bellegarde, Thomasson, Sissoko; Diallo, Ajorque
We say: Reims 2-2 Strasbourg
Both teams will fancy their chances of getting a second win in a row and we could see plenty of goals in a tight, well-matched affair that may ultimately end up level.
Top betting tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or draw in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Draw:data
Olly Allen
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Strasbourg win with a probability of 37.57%. A win for Reims had a probability of 34.94% and a draw had a probability of 27.5%.
The most likely scoreline for a Strasbourg win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.97%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.06%) and 0-2 (6.8%). The likeliest Reims win was 1-0 (10.49%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 7.7% likelihood.
