Two sides struggling in Ligue 1 will come together on Sunday afternoon as Reims are set to host Auxerre at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II.
The home team are 15th in the standings and just two points above the drop zone, while the visitors are 12th and only eight points above the bottom three.
Match preview
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Reims made a strong start to the 2024-25 season, winning four, drawing two and losing only one of their opening seven Ligue 1 fixtures, but they have suffered a significant drop-off in the matches since.
The Red and Whites have subsequently triumphed just once in the following 17 league games, recording five draws and a disappointing 11 losses in that time, including a 13-match winless run heading into this one.
That streak has seen Luka Elsner dismissed from his role as manager, with Samba Diawara initially taking charge on an interim basis before being announced as the new permanent boss.
However, Diawara has been unable to reverse Reims' fortunes since taking charge, as they have lost all four of their Ligue 1 matches under his management, failing to score a single goal during that period.
These results have dragged Reims closer to the relegation zone, with the team now sitting in 15th place, just one spot above the bottom three, having collected 22 points from 24 matches, leaving them with a narrow two-point cushion over 16th-placed Le Havre.
Aiming to bring an end to their miserable run and widen the gap over the drop zone, Reims will take on an Auxerre side who have faced similar difficulties this season.
The visitors lost four and won only one of their opening five Ligue 1 fixtures, before quickly improving as they secured five wins, three draws and lost just twice in the next 10.
However, Christophe Pelissier's side have stumbled in the following outings, recording just one win in the next 10 across all competitions, alongside four draws and five losses.
Those results have seen Auxerre fall from eighth on matchday 14 to 12th heading into this one, and the visitors now only hold an eight-point lead over the relegation zone.
Pelissier will be desperate for his side to end their current streak with a win and avoid dropping any closer to the bottom three, but the visitors have a dismal record at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, failing to win in any of their past three competitive visits.
Team News
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The hosts will be without Gabriel Moscardo, Mohamed Daramy, Nhoa Sangui, Reda Khadra, Jordan Pefok and Yaya Fofana for this match due to ongoing injury problems.
Cedric Kipre will also be unavailable after receiving a red card in the 1-0 defeat to Rennes late last month, meaning Joseph Okumu may partner Mory Gbane in central defence.
Elsewhere, a change in the attacking lineup is expected as Reims still search for their first league goal since Diawara's arrival, meaning Oumar Diakite may start just ahead of Teddy Teuma.
As for Auxerre, Lasso Coulibaly is anticipated to be their only absentee, as the winger is set to remain sidelined until May due to a cruciate ligament injury.
While they lost to Strasbourg 1-0 in their last outing, an encouraging performance could mean that Pelissier decides to name a similar starting 11 for this one.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Sekine, Okumu, Gbane, Akieme; Patrick, Edoa; Ito, Teuma, Nakamura; Diakite
Auxerre possible starting lineup:
Leon; Osho, Jubal, Akpa; Hoever, Danois, Owusu, Mensah; Perrin, Traore; Bair
We say: Reims 0-1 Auxerre
Reims are enduring a dismal winless run coming into this game, while they have failed to score in their last four league outings, and with Auxerre producing encouraging performances in recent outings, we believe the visitors will win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
