Reims vs Montpellier Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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Following the departure of Will Still and appointment of Luka Elsner, Stade de Reims are enjoying an impressive start to this season as they now face a Montpellier Herault side that are predictably struggling in Ligue 1.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 6th October, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
REIMS PREVIEW: REIMS ON A RUN
Will Still was given quite a large budget at Reims last year but they underperformed by sliding down towards the bottom-half of the table. Now former Le Havre coach Luka Elsner is making them far more efficient and effective.
After beginning with a 2-0 defeat to Lille in which they were down to ten men inside 90 minutes, Reims have enjoyed a five-match unbeaten run of form which has included a draw against PSG and they most recently defeated Angers by three goals to one last weekend.
MONTPELLIER PREVIEW: MICHEL NEEDS A MOMENT WITH MONTPELLIER
In each of the last two summers, the expectation was that 2012 French champions Montpellier would be dragged into a relegation battle with the league going from 20 to 18 teams. Michel Der Zakarian produced a mid-table finish last year but things have definitely declined this time.
After six matches of the 2024/25 Ligue 1 season, Montpellier have collected just four points with a fortunate draw against Strasbourg as well as a topsy turvy and once again fortunate 3-2 win at home against newly-promoted Auxerre.
REIMS TEAM NEWS: DEFENSIVE ISSUES
Defensive trio Joseph Okumu, Gabriel Moscardo and Abdoul Kone remain sidelined through injury for Reims this weekend alongside former Brighton and Hove Albion winger Reda Khadra.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Diouf; Buta, Kipre, Agbadou, Akieme; Atangana, Fofana; Ito, Munetsi, Nakamura, Diakite
UNAVAILABLE: Okumu (Injured), Moscardo (Injured), Ab. Kone (Injured), Khadra (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONTPELLIER TEAM NEWS: LONG LIST OF ABSENTEES
With a couple of suspensions to Rabby Nzingoula and Tanguy Coulibaly, the absentee list for Montpellier is extremely long as it also includes injuries to Kiki Kouyate, Joris Chotard and key forward Mousa Al Tamari.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bertaud; Sacko, Omeragic, Sagnan, Mincarelli; Toure, Fayad; Nordin, Savanier, Khazri; Adams
UNAVAILABLE: Kouyate (Injured), Chotard (Injured), Maamma (Injured), Sainte-Luce (Injured), Issoufou (Injured), Al Tamari (Injured), Coulibaly (Suspended), Nzingoula (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
REIMS VS MONTPELLIER PREDICTION
Since that almost now erroneous and anomalous opening day defeat, Reims have been genuinely very good to watch as well as getting good results to propel themselves up the Ligue 1 table. They are taking on a Montpellier side with the joint worst defensive record in the league after six matches. With the form of both sides, as well as their home advantage, siding with Reims is the way to go for this one.
REIMS VS MONTPELLIER TIP: REIMS TO WIN
