Lyon vs Reims Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Olympique Lyonnais have entered into a new era with the bizarre sacking of Pierre Sage and appointment of Paulo Fonseca. They now welcome Stade de Reims to Parc OL this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 9th February, 2025: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Lyon Preview: Lyon have problems
John Textor makes some bizarre decisions and says some bizarre things. Despite having a mess of a squad that could get them administratively relegated this season, Pierre Sage had Lyon overperforming and yet he was sacked last month with Paulo Fonseca drafted in.
Fonseca is a good manager so that isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it was completely unnecessary. Since the decision, the hosts have shared a 1-1 draw at home to Ludogorets Razgrad in the UEFA Europa League before losing to Olympique de Marseille last weekend.
Reims Preview: Reims need a run
Stade de Reims boss Luka Elsner, formerly of Le Havre, is coming under a bit of pressure as the visitors have drifted down the table after what was a bright start to the campaign. They are now in the bottom-half and Elsner is under pressure at the helm.
The visitors required a penalty shootout victory to defeat fourth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France in midweek. However, their 2-1 defeat at home to Nantes last weekend means they are now winless in their last nine Ligue 1 matches.
Lyon Team News: Abundance of attackers
Much like the summer, Lyon failed to shift their abundance of attackers during the winter window but did cancel the loan of Wilfried Zaha and allow Said Benrahma to depart. Fellow attacker and key man Malick Fofana remains an injury doubt, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Perri; Kumbedi, Clinton Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Matic, Veretout; Cherki, Tolisso, Nuamah; Lacazette
Unavailable:
Questionable: Fofana (Injured)
Reims Team News: Okumu suspension
Kenya international defender Joseph Okumu is missing through this weekend’s trip to Lyon due to suspension. They also have three attacking midfielders unavailable with Malta international Teddy Teuma joining Reda Khadra and Mohamed Daramy on the sidelines.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Diouf; Buta, Sekine, Kipre, Sergio Akieme; Atangana, John Patrick; Ito, Diakhon, Nakamura; Salama
Unavailable: Okumu (Suspended), Fofana (Injured), Teuma (Injured), Khadra (Injured), Daramy (Injured)
Questionable: Kone (Injured), Pefok (Injured)
Lyon vs Reims Prediction
Now, despite all of the criticism that is fair that has been levelled at Textor, it does remain true that Fonseca is a good manager and did a very impressive job with Lille before departing for AC Milan last summer. It was a defeat to Marseille last weekend but there were impressive signs going forward. They face a Reims side that suffered some key departures during the window, such as Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshal Munetsi to Wolverhampton Wanderers, and an already weak, small squad has been worsened by injury issues – and they had to endure penalties in midweek. Lyon should win here.
Lyon vs Reims Tip: Lyon to win
