- Date and Time: Friday, November 29, 2024. 7:45 PM GMT+1
- Venue: Stade Auguste-Delaune II, Reims, France
Reims vs Lens Preview
Reims
Luka Elsner’s Reims will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to three matches on Friday. The Ligue 1 side played out a cagey draw against Lyon over the weekend, and the same 4-2-3-1 formation will likely be deployed this weekend.
In the system, the holding midfielders are pressured to keep hold of the ball, while Oumar Diakité is tasked with holding up the ball to enable the wide players to get in behind. Defensively, the system has worked well this season, as Reims have conceded just 12 goals from an xGA of 15.49.
🦾 𝗟𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗿 !
🧤 L’incroyable 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 de 𝗬𝗲𝗵𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗳 face à Lacazette ! 💥#SDROL #TeamSDR pic.twitter.com/FRo3lEvza2
— Stade de Reims (@StadeDeReims) November 25, 2024
Meanwhile, the attacking players have been clinical when having chances, outsourcing their 15.91 with 16 goals from open play. However, Reims will be without some core players in the middle of the park this weekend, with defenders Joseph Okumu and Maxime Busi ruled out.
Lens
Will Still will take positives from his side’s start to the new season, despite many believing that the Ligue 1 side have been too inconsistent to challenge for a European place.
They come into this round after losing three of their last four, but it is worth noting that the three defeats suffered have come against sides sitting in the top four positions.
𝐹𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠 📸 sur #SDRRCL 🔜
Tournés vers la 1⃣3⃣e journée de @Ligue1, les Sang et Or attaquent la préparation du déplacement à Reims, ce vendredi (20h45). #FiersDEtreLensois pic.twitter.com/1i4fileUfp
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) November 25, 2024
The 3-4-2-1 formation has been a preferred system for Still since arriving in France, with players in the centre of the park having to be mobile enough to get up and down the field. However, this tactic has made them slightly vulnerable in transitions.
Despite that, Lens are outperforming their xGA metric of 9.24 after allowing just five goals from open play.
However, more will be expected from the attacking players after scoring just nine times from an xG of 18.14. Still has no fresh injury concerns this weekend, with Wesley Saïd, Ruben Aguilar, and Sidi Bane all still missing.
Bet hereReims vs Lens Prediction
- Pick: Lens to win
- Odds: 2.39 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Reims 0-2 Lens
There is a sense that Lens are moving in the right direction under Still, but they will need to be more clinical in the final third, which is evidenced by their difference in terms of xG and goals scored.
However, against a defensively vulnerable side that is often rigid in their setup, Lens look to have the legs and energy to make their fitness count in this showdown.
Their chances of being a winning Reims vs Lens prediction are only enhanced based on the fact that Reims are winless against Lens in Ligue 1 since March 1977.
Reims vs Lens Prediction, Betting Tip
- Pick: M’Bala Nzola to Score
- Odds: (22Bet)
A player that needs to start firing if Lens are to challenge for a European place is M’Bala Nzola. The forward has found himself in the right place throughout the season, accumulating an xG of 2.82.
However, he has scored just twice in seven appearances. Despite that, he could be an interesting angle when making a football prediction this weekend after averaging 2.77 shots per 90.
Given the combative style of the Lens midfield in the 3-4-2-1 formation, it is little surprise that there is value in the card markets. Therefore, an alternative angle could be for the visitors to pick up over 2.5 cards. Still’s side have averaged 2.67 cards per match in the league this season, with 67% of their fixtures having more than 4.5 cards.
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