Toulouse vs Reims Predictions

• Toulouse are currently on a run of seven straight defeats.
• The home side have conceded a whopping twenty goals in the eight games that new coach Antoine Kombouaré has taken charge of.
• Reims have lost just one of their last nine games and have conceded the second least goals of all Ligue 1 teams this season.

New coach but worse results

The Toulouse hierarchy weren’t happy with Alain Casanova’s start to the season so sacked him after nine games to make space for Ligue 1’s version of Sam Allardyce, Antoine Kombouaré. However, it hasn’t gone well for the new coach to say the least. In les Violets’ first game under the new coach they beat last year’s runners-up Lille (2-1) but since then it has been a torrid run of form with plenty of defeats and not a lot to cheer about. They’ve lost their last seven games on the bounce and currently sit level on points with bottom club Nîmes. 

In the eight matches that Kombouaré has taken charge of Toulouse have conceded a whopping twenty goals, for comparison their opponents Reims have conceded just eight all season. Les Violets’ defensive shape has crumbled away to nothing with Strasbourg exposing every bit of its weaknesses as they succumbed Toulouse to a 4-2 defeat last week. Something that has improved is Toulouse’s attack which has netted ten times in the eight matches under Kombouaré but none of these goals have made a difference due to the woeful performances of the back line. 

Reims on a good run

Reims have a potentially easy opportunity for three points here but they will need to watch for complacency as they travel to the Pink City. David Guion’s men kept up their good run of form last week as they beat Saint-Étienne 3-1, extending their unbeaten run to four games. Generally it has been a solid period for Reims as they have lost just one of their last nine games but they could do with some more wins as they have drawn three of their last four. 

Reims have built much of their success this season off of their aforementioned impeccably strong defence but this has often starved the attack of opportunities. They did score three goals against Saint-Étienne last week but this was the first time they’d done that this season, and just the second time since February. Reims have scored the third least goals in Ligue 1 this campaign but currently sit ninth due to their defence conceding the second least goals of all teams in the division. 

A narrow match on the cards?

Reims’ away form isn’t spectacular going into this match but it should be enough to see them past this awful Toulouse side. The visitors have won two of their last four games on the road but we’re backing them to get the victory here as they won last week and face a Toulouse side on such an awful run of form. 

Reims are one of the best defensive teams in the league and even though the hosts have been slightly better in attack under Kombouaré, we’re backing the away side to get a 1-0 win. They have kept clean sheets in two of their last four matches on the road and should be able to keep that up here.