Reims vs Nantes Predictions

David Guion’s Reims have stunned everyone by coming onto the Ligue 1 scene with a bang, soaring up to their current 5th spot despite being the newly promoted side. Their squad has quality all over the pitch and it has really shown as they are putting themselves in a great place for European contention. They have the third best defensive record in the league, one only bettered by the top two of Lille and PSG, and with them only losing twice at home all season, they should be pretty confident of finishing the campaign strongly. 

Their last two results were draws against relegation battling sides but Reims were extremely unfortunate not to win both as they had 61% of the possession against Amiens (2-2) and managed 21 more shots than Dijon (1-1). Before this they had beaten lofty opponents in Montpellier (4-2), Marseille (2-1) and Rennes (2-0) so they will be eager to get back on track here with a win. Reims should be disappointed at the quality of their defensive efforts recently though as just one clean sheet in their last six games is very substandard for them. 

Nantes have won five of their last eight matches but two of these were against lower-league opposition and the other three were against teams in the bottom eight. Reims will be a much more sizeable challenge but Vahid Halilhodžić will hope that his men can channel their momentum into this game. 

They have been very poor in getting possession of games recently as they had 41% against Toulouse (2-0), 43% against Bordeaux (1-0) and just 39% against second bottom Caen (1-0). That being said, they managed to get a whopping 25 shots on target and 24 corners in just these three games so they have managed to create chances on the break when they have been pinned back by the opposition. They have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight matches and will hope that their extended rest due to last week’s postponement will allow them to be fresh and revitalised for this game. 

Reims are a very good side though, and with them staring at the possibility of an unthinkable Europa League qualification, we feel that the home side have more to fight for which will bring them the win here. They have been incredible this season and with an incredible home record that has seen them recently beat Marseille are Rennes, we’re backing them to score two goals for the seventh time in eight home matches. Nantes have shown a lot more going forward recently though and with Reims’ defence looking slightly suspect in the last few weeks, we’re backing a 2-1 win for the home side.