Lyon vs Reims Prediction & Betting Tips

Lyon host Reims in this Ligue 1 clash. This is a very important meeting with big implications in the race for European Football.

Date: 30/03/24

Kick-off time: 20:00

Venue: Groupama Stadium

For Lyon, it has been a very underwhelming season as they currently occupy 10th place. The side have endured a disappointing few seasons, not finishing in the top four since 2021. They will be desperate for a return to European action, and with 12 games to go, they are outsiders in the hunt for a top five finish. Sitting on 34 points, they are nine points adrift of fifth place Nice, making this game a must win if they are to have any chance of remaining in the fight. They also have a -10 goal difference, far worse than the teams above them, making their task even harder.

Their opponents, Reims, are one place above them in ninth. Such is the competitiveness in that area of the table, Reims are just five points behind Nice, giving them an excellent opportunity to close or maintain that gap with victory this weekend. Defeat, however, would see them just a point clear of Lyon and join them as unlikely challengers.

Goals should be in it for both teams, with a combined three clean sheets in the last seven for the pair. The main scoring threat for the hosts should be ex-Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who has 13 league goals on the season so far, nine more than Jake O’Brien, who is second on the list. Reims will look to Teddy Teuma who has six, and Oumar Diakite who has five. Three of those have come in the last five games.

In five meetings, there has not been much to split the two teams, though Reims edge it with two wins to one. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in their favour as they won 2-0. Marshall Munetsi and captain Yunis Abdelhamid scored either side of half-time to secure victory for their side.

Lyon

Said Benrahma is recovering from a thigh injury that kept him out of the last game. Midfielder Orel Mangala remains out with illness.

Reims

Teddy Teuma has a calf injury which may keep him out, whilst Adama Bojang is nursing an injured knee. Benjamin Stambouli has a hamstring issue.

Lyon

In their last five games, Lyon have won three, drawn one and lost one. They have enjoyed some good form as of late, as they try to climb the table. Their latest game was a narrow 3-2 victory at Toulouse, though they had to come from behind to take victory. Alexandre Lacazette gave Lyon the lead with a strike just past the half hour mark, but this was cancelled out by Thijs Dallinga shortly into the second half. However, the hosts took the lead themselves with a penalty six minutes later. Rayan Cherki got the visitors back on level terms late on, before Jake O’Brien scored the winner with less than 10 minutes remaining.

This followed a much more comfortable triumph at struggling Lorient. Second half goals from Nicolas Tagliafico and Mama Balde secured a 2-0 win, in which Lyon held their opponents to no shots on target. It was the perfect response to a crushing 3-0 home loss to Lens. Despite there not being too much to split the sides in possession, Lens broke the deadlock through Florian Sotoca just before half-time. Elye Wahi converted a penalty soon after the restart to double the lead, before Kevin Danso put the game to bed late on, minutes after an Ainsley Maitland-Niles red card.

League matters were put aside for one game as Lyon competed in the quarter-finals of the French Cup. They were held 0-0 by Strasbourg after 90 minutes which sent the tie to penalties. Prevailing 4-3 in the shootout, they booked their place in the semi-finals. The first game in this stretch was a 2-1 victory at Metz, in which they had to overcome an early setback. Metz took the lead after 13 minutes, an advantage that was erased by a Lacazette goal on the stroke of half-time. Ex-Premier League player Said Benrahma netted the winner in the second half.

Reims

In their last five games, Reims have won two, drawn two and lost one. Reims have had a good stretch of form, picking up some big results along the way. The most recent was a 2-1 home win over Metz, in which they took a very early lead through Oumar Diakite, though Arthur Atta equalised shortly after. The hosts dominated possession, and finally took advantage as Junya Ito scored the winner with 11 minutes to go.

This followed another big result, a 2-2 draw at league leaders PSG. This time they were dominated in possession, but they were able to come away with a point. Marshall Munetsi gave Reims the lead seven minutes in, though Yunis Abdelhamid converted into his own net to level the score. PSG quickly took the lead through striker Goncalo Ramos, before Diakite restored parity on the stroke of half time, which was the last of the scoring.

Their only defeat in this period was a home loss to Lille. It was an even game, with both sides having the same number of attempts and attempts on target. However, it was the visitors who nicked a win, with Jonathan David’s second half goal proving the difference between the sides. A trip to 13th place Le Havre resulted in a 2-1 win, which came in dramatic fashion. The opener did not arrive until the 64th minute, with Reims’ winger Mohamed Daramy on the scoresheet. They went down to 10 men immediately after as Thomas Foket saw red. With an extra man, a spot-kick got the hosts on the board, but Daramy scored a penalty of his own to snatch a huge three points in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The points were shared in a home game with Lens, as two first half goals produced a 1-1 scoreline.

Both sides have had mixed results as of late, and are competing in the middle of the table. It will be a close game, with both teams scoring, but expect Lyon to use their home advantage to edge it – Lyon 2-1 Reims

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Lyon vs Reims will be available to watch on TNT Sports 2.

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