Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
There is a clear gap in current form between RC Lens and Stade de Reims, but that alone does not promise an open encounter. The coaching staff of William Still will be motivated to make an impression against their former club, which remains in the midst of a deep crisis and heads to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis hoping at least to avoid defeat.
RC Lens
With seven players out injured and Neil El Aynaoui suspended (3+1 since 23 February), RC Lens are unlikely to adopt an attacking approach. They have been involved in the fewest entertaining matches in Ligue 1 this season and are currently on a run of four consecutive Total Under 2.5 games. Over the course of 28 rounds, only eight of their fixtures have produced three or more goals. Last Sunday, against relegation-threatened AS Saint-Étienne (1:0), the squad scored just once despite posting 2.50 xG.
Stade de Reims
Stade de Reims briefly climbed out of the relegation play-off zone with a surprise 3:1 win over Olympique de Marseille, but immediately dropped back to 16th following a 0:1 loss to RC Strasbourg Alsace. Last weekend, the team managed just 0.80 xG over the full 90 minutes. In 13 away games this season, the relegation-threatened side has scored 13 goals — only three clubs in Ligue 1 have a worse attacking return on the road.
RC Lens vs Stade de Reims Prediction
Since the beginning of last season, RC Lens and Stade de Reims have played three straight matches that ended in Total Under 2.5 goals. In the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, RC Lens recorded a clean-sheet win (2:0). The opening match of the upcoming Ligue 1 round is unlikely to offer many scoring opportunities.
