Matchday 34 in Ligue 1 between Lille and Reims will take place on May 17 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Lille vs. Reims: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Lille
In the last round, the club suffered a 0-2 defeat to Brest, ending their four-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 (3 wins, 1 draw). Lille's scoring streak in the French championship, which lasted for six matches, was also broken. Despite the loss, the team retained the 5th position in the Ligue 1 standings, but they have lost the chance to secure a direct spot in the Champions League, trailing the 3rd place by four points. However, they are only behind 4th-placed Nice due to a worse goal difference in the current championship. Lille's defense has been reliable this season, conceding 35 goals, with only the champion PSG conceding fewer (34).
- The team has not scored more than twice in 12 of their last 13 Ligue 1 matches.
- At home, the club has won 6 of their last 8 matches in this tournament (1 draw, 1 loss).
- Both teams scored in 8 of Lille's last 10 home matches in the French championship.
Predicted lineup for Lille (4-4-2)
Lucas Chevalier – Thomas Meunier, Aissa Mandi, Alessandro, Ismaily – Mitchel Bakker, Ngalael Mukau, Nabil Bentaleb, Haukur Haraldsson – Matias Fernandez Pardo, Jonathan David.
Reims
The team lost "to nil" in their last two championship matches, facing Nice (0-1) and Saint-Etienne (0-2). Reims has not scored in three consecutive matches in the elite French division. As a result of the defeat in the last round, the club dropped to 14th in the Ligue 1 standings, with their gap from the relegation zone reduced to just two points. Reims' attacking performance in the current championship has been weak, with only 32 goals scored, only better than the tournament's hopeless outsider Montpellier (23). In the first round, Reims lost to Lille 0-2.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 12 of the team's last 13 Ligue 1 matches.
- No more than two goals were scored in Reims' last six matches in Ligue 1.
- The team failed to score in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the elite French division.
Predicted lineup for Reims (5-4-1)
Yehvann Diouf – Sergio Akieme, Mori Gbane, Joseph Okumu, Cedric Kipre, Hiroki Sekine – Ange Tia, Valentin Atangana Edoa, Amadou Kone, Keito Nakamura – Jordan Siebatcheu.
Forward Keito Nakamura is unavailable due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Referee
Willy Delajod (France)
Matches – 18 (Ligue 1, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 69;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.8;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 22;
Penalties – 28%.
Prediction for Lille vs. Reims
Bookmakers have the hosts as clear favorites for the upcoming match, and I fully agree. Lille traditionally performs excellently at home, as they have shown in the current championship. Bruno Genesio's team has won 10 of their 16 home matches in this Ligue 1 season (4 draws, 2 losses). Lille's home scoring streak in the elite French championship is an impressive 41 matches. It's also worth noting that Lille has one of the most reliable defenses in the championship, while the visitors have a very weak attack.
Lille's motivation is also a factor to consider, as they are fighting for 4th place, which grants the right to play in the Champions League qualifiers. They need to win as convincingly as possible in the upcoming match to surpass Nice in goal difference. I expect the hosts to dominate and prevent the visitors from scoring. Reims has failed to score in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the French championship, against much less reliable opponents than Lille.
In the first round, Bruno Genesio's team confidently defeated the upcoming opponent without conceding. Therefore, my prediction is a "Clean sheet victory for Lille".