Reims are set to host Lille at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II on Saturday evening, with both sides aiming to start the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season on a positive note.
The hosts finished ninth in the league last year, just four points behind seventh-placed RC Lens in the European places, while the visitors finished fourth, securing them a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds.
Match preview
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Since their promotion to Ligue 1 as Ligue 2 champions in their second attempt in 2017-18, Reims have enjoyed several impressive campaigns, finishing in the top half in three of the following six seasons.
They had their worst year back in the top flight in 2020-21, as despite finishing 14th in the league, they escaped the drop with just a two-point lead over the relegation zone.
Reims have slowly progressed back up the table in the subsequent campaigns, placing 12th in 2021-22, 11th in 2022-23 and finishing in ninth in the most recent season, just four points behind seventh-placed Lens.
Although they would go on to record their best finish since placing sixth in 2019-20, Will Still departed the club at the end of April after managing just two wins in his final 13 league fixtures.
Samba Diawara, who took charge of Reims on an interim basis until the end of the term and guided the team to two wins and one draw, finishing in ninth, has been succeeded by former Le Havre boss Luka Elsner ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Reims have had a mixed pre-season under the new manager, winning three, losing two and drawing two of their seven friendly fixtures, and Elsner will be hoping to have a better start in his first competitive match in charge.
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As for Lille, after winning their first Ligue 1 title in 10 years in 2020-21, the Lillois have had a mixed three seasons, falling to a disappointing 10th place in 2021-22, fifth in 2022-23 and, most recently, fourth in 2023-24.
They narrowly missed out on third place last year after conceding a 93rd-minute equaliser against Nice on the final day, consigning them to fourth and missing out on automatic qualification to the Champions League.
Lille have instead had to compete in the qualifying rounds for their place in the Champions League, and they have already defeated Fenerbahce 3-2 on aggregate in the third round, thanks to Jonathan David's 118th-minute winner in the second leg.
New boss Bruno Genesio, who took over after Paulo Fonseca's departure to AC Milan, will be pleased with that result in his first competitive matches and will now focus on the opening Ligue 1 game before facing Slavia Praha in the playoff round for a spot in the Champions League.
Lille were victorious in the last meeting between these two, triumphing 1-0 at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, but that is their only victory in the past five encounters.
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Team News
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Martin Adeline and Mohamed Daramy are both doubts for the hosts going into this game, with the latter still recovering from a knee injury he sustained in late March.
Summer signing Cedric Kipre, who joined from West Bromwich Albion, could be in line for his first start for the club, partnering Emmanuel Agbadou in the middle of the defence.
Thomas Meunier started in each of Lille's matches against Fenerbahce but the defender was forced off in the 106th minute due to an injury last time out, leaving him as a doubt for this one.
David scored 26 times across all competitions last season and netted his first of 2024-25 last time out, and the striker is expected to lead the line here.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Busi, Agbadou, Kipre, Smet; Ito, Munetsi, Teuma, Nakamura; Khadra, Diakite
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Santos, Mandi, Diakite, Ribeiro; Gudmundsson; Cabella, Andre, Gomes, Haraldsson; David
We say: Reims 1-0 Lille
Reims were at their best at home last season, and with the visitors coming off the back of 120 minutes against Fenerbahce in their last match, we believe the hosts have the advantage and will go on to win this one.
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