Angers vs Reims Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Following promotion back to the top-flight last season, it has been an underwhelming and generally poor start to the campaign for Angers as they languish in Ligue 1 ahead of facing what appears to be a strong Stade de Reims side.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 29th September, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
ANGERS PREVIEW: ANGER IN ANGERS
Angers gained automatic promotion back to Ligue 1 last season but have endured a difficult return to the top-flight with the pressure already on their manager, Alexandre Dujeux. The home team begin the weekend’s round of fixtures sitting at the bottom-of-the-table after their opening five matches.
Their most recent outing saw them share a 1-1 draw with Nantes at Stade Raymond Kopa last weekend in a game in which they went 1-0 down after 18 minutes with a goal scored by Johann Lepenant before Himad Abdelli then equalised for Les Noirs et Blanc to get their second point of the season.
REIMS PREVIEW: STEADY SINCE THE START
Stade de Reims parted company with Will Still with just a couple of games to go at the back end of last season and his replacement, Slovenian coach Luka Elsner who had performed extremely well at Le Havre, has started his reign in charge of the club extremely well.
Since suffering a 2-0 defeat to Lille on the opening weekend in a game in which they were down to ten men inside 20 minutes, Reims have since enjoyed a four-match unbeaten run of form with two victories and two draws. Those draws have come away against Olympique de Marseille and then they managed to hold Paris Saint-Germain at home last weekend after taking the lead via Keito Nakamura.
ANGERS TEAM NEWS: FRESH INJURY CONCERN
Angers have been dealing with a couple of injury absentees in recent weeks and both Joseph Lopy and Justin-Noel Kalumba remain unavailable for the home team.
However, they have now been joined on the sidelines by Jacques Ekomie, who suffered a knee injury in that aforementioned draw with Nantes last week.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Fofana; Arcus, Biumla, Lefort, Hanin; Aholou, Belkelba; Allevinah, Abdelli, El Melali; Dieng
UNAVAILABLE: Ekomie (Injured), Lopy (Injured), Kalumba (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
REIMS TEAM NEWS: STILL A FEW INJURIES BUT STRONG REIMS
The aforementioned opening day red card was to Amadou Kone but the defensive midfielder has now returned from suspension. Reims do still have a couple of absentees, though.
PSG loanee Gabriel Moscardo is unavailable for this one alongside Joseph Okumu as well as Abdoul Kone and former Brighton and Hove Albion man Reda Khadra.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Diouf; Buta, Kipre, Agbadou, Sergio Akieme; Atangana, Fofana, Munetsi; Ito, Diakite, Nakamura
UNAVAILABLE: Gabriel Moscardo (Injured), Okumu (Injured), Ab. Kone (Injured), Khadra (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: QUESTIONABLE PLAYERS HERE
ANGERS VS REIMS PREDICTION
Angers have appeared to improve and make themselves a bit more stubborn as the season has gone on with a couple of draws in the last couple of weeks. Despite being bottom, seven teams have conceded more than Angers this season. Reims are not necessarily an overly fluent side but definitely attempt to play progressive football. That said, their lack of effectiveness could cost them at times. Even with that, it would be a surprise to see them beaten here.
ANGERS VS REIMS TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – REIMS TO WIN OR DRAW
