Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
The dire situation for Saint-Étienne leaves one of France's most storied clubs in the playoff zone. Against Stade de Reims, Saint-Étienne must demonstrate defensive improvement—a focus they presumably worked on during the Christmas break.
Saint-Étienne
Their elimination from the French Cup at the hands of Marseille (0:4) marked Saint-Étienne's fourth consecutive defeat. Since 19th October, the newly promoted side have endured five goalless setbacks in nine matches, scoring more than once only at home against Strasbourg (2:0). Saint-Étienne rank last in Ligue 1 by xG (14.86), and in their final match before the break against Toulouse (1:2), they once again displayed passive football (5-4-1)
Stade de Reims
Stade de Reims do not significantly outshine their upcoming opponents in attacking play—they have scored just 20 goals in 15 games (10th in the league, tied with Stade Rennais). Since late November, Stade de Reims have not found the net in the league, yet points have come from goalless draws with Strasbourg and Monaco. It seems this mid-table side prefer to concentrate on defence and play a counterattacking game.
Saint-Étienne vs Stade de Reims Prediction
At home, Saint-Étienne will aim to avoid embarrassment, while Reims are likely to play solidly at the back again, following their trend of four matches under 2.5 goals. We’re betting on the total under 3.5, as it seems the most suitable choice for this encounter.
