Reims can stretch their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to 15 matches when they host Troyes at Stade Auguste-Delaune on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Les Rouges et Blancs exited from the Coupe de France, losing 3-1 at Toulouse, while ESTAC are winless in six successive matches in all competitions, falling 3-1 against Lyon in league play last weekend.
Match preview
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The tenure of William Still as manager of Reims has gone about as well as anyone at the club could have hoped, as they have earned at least a point in 12 successive domestic fixtures since the Belgian took charge.
Still is the fourth coach in Ligue 1 history to go undefeated in his first dozen games of this competition, joining Thomas Tuchel, Ricardo Gomes and Gerard Gili as the only others to accomplish that feat.
Earlier this week, though, we saw this group suffer their first competitive loss since Oscar Garcia was sacked in October, conceding three times, only one fewer than they had allowed in all nine of their matches combined this year.
Their 0-0 result at Auxerre last Sunday was the fifth time in 2022-23 that Reims had played to a goalless draw in this competition, the second-most among teams in the top-five European leagues behind only Newcastle United (six).
That draw extended their unbeaten run to 14 matches, the longest for this club since returning into the top flight in 2018-19.
Over the past four and a half seasons for them in the top flight, there are only two teams they have failed to earn a point against at home, Toulouse and Troyes, dropping a 2-1 result versus ESTAC in this exact fixture last season.
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They may have a new manager in the dugout, but lately, we are seeing the same old Troyes that we witnessed under Bruno Irles, losing for the fourth time in their last five league games last weekend.
Patrick Kisnorbo has not been able to sort out their defensive frailties since being appointed as the new coach, with his side being outscored 13-3 in their previous four domestic affairs.
In 22 domestic encounters this season, Troyes have given up a league-high 48 goals, the second-highest total for a side in the French top-flight at this stage of a campaign, with only Bordeaux allowing more last season (53).
Troyes have only triumphed once in their last 14 matches in this competition, defeating Strasbourg 3-2 in early January, with three of their four victories coming away from home.
That slump has them dangerously close to the relegation zone, just a point above Strasbourg and descent into Ligue 2.
ESTAC have never lost a Ligue 1 encounter versus Reims, with their previous top-flight defeat against them coming during the 1977-78 campaign when this competition was known as division 1.
Team News
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Noah Holm, who is on loan at Reims from Rosenborg in Norway, along with Dutchman Mitchell van Bergen, are both dealing with knee injuries.
Another loanee Folarin Balogun, who came to them from Arsenal, has been a sensation in the top flight this season, leading the league with 14 goals, 10 more than the next Reims player Junya Ito.
Yehvann Diouf, who is fourth in Ligue 1 for clean sheets this season (seven), scored an own goal to give Toulouse the early lead in their Coupe de France match this week, with their only strike of that contest coming courtesy of Jens Cajuste.
Karim Azamoum remains out for Troyes because of an ACL strain, while Florian Tardieu will not be back this season after tearing his Achilles tendon.
Gauthier Gallon has given up eight goals in his last three games since replacing Mateusz Lis between the sticks, conceding three last weekend versus Lyon, with their only strike of that match coming from Rony Lopes.
Their leading scorer this season Mama Balde has netted in each of the last two road fixtures for ESTAC in this competition, with Renaud Ripart, Lopes and Xavier Chavalerin being the only other players who have found the back of the net for them away from home in 2023.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Foket, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Cajuste, Munetsi; Ito, Zeneli, Flips; Balogun
Troyes possible starting lineup:
Gallon; Palmer-Brown, Salmier, Porozo; Larouci, Chavalerin, Agoume, Ripart, Bruus; Lopes, Balde
We say: Reims 2-0 Troyes
Given how poor defensively Troyes have looked in recent games, having to contend with an in-form striker like Balogun is probably the last thing they need right now.
Outside of Balogun, Reims have not been particularly sharp in the attacking third, but they look far more comfortable along the backline than ESTAC and should not have much difficulty containing that attacking line.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
