Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
As they prepare for an impending clash with Paris Saint-Germain, AS Monaco are in need of a convincing victory over the underdogs. Stade de Reims have long struggled to display consistent defensive performances, which suggests that the team will impose themselves in their opponent's penalty area from the outset—creating enough opportunities for a win.
Stade de Reims
Since the international break in October, Stade de Reims have managed just one victory in seven Ligue 1 matches, conceding a total of eight goals during this period. At home, they have accumulated eight points (only two teams have fewer in the championship). Stade de Reims have been fortunate defensively, as they've conceded only 18 goals against an xGA of 22.93, so high finishing efficiency from AS Monaco will be a major challenge.
AS Monaco
There are no concerns regarding AS Monaco's attacking creativity—they have amassed 28.68 xG over 14 matches, the third-best in the tournament. Their defeat to Arsenal (0:3) can be attributed to the strength and motivation of their opponent, especially considering they were missing three starting players. With Wilfried Singo, Denis Zakaria, and Christian Mawissa back in the lineup, the team will have more options across the pitch.
Stade de Reims vs AS Monaco Prediction
AS Monaco have dealt with Stade de Reims away from home for two seasons in a row (3:0 and 3:1). While a win for them is expected, a safer bet would be to back them with a reliable handicap of 0, particularly since the favourites have limited days for recovery after the Champions League.
