MX23RW : Wednesday, May 1 22:45:22| >> :600:383777:383777:
[monks data]
Nice
Ligue 1 | Gameweek 32
Apr 11, 2021 at 2pm UK
Stade Municipal du Ray
Reims

Nice
0 - 0
Reims

FT

Preview: Nice vs. Reims - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Reims, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Nice take on Reims in a mid-table clash in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Both sides head into this match in decent form, with Nice unbeaten in five matches and Reims in seven.


Match preview

Nice manager Adrian Ursea pictured in February 2021© Reuters

Indeed, after a disappointing first two-thirds of the season, which saw them crash out of the Europa League group stage and languish in the bottom half, Nice's form has picked up in recent weeks to climb back into the top half of the table.

Kasper Dolberg's brace helped them secure a 2-1 win at struggling Nantes last weekend, with the Denmark striker converting from the penalty spot before fizzing in a wicked effort from a tight angle 18 minutes later to take the game away from the hosts.

Adrian Ursea will have been pleased with his side's fighting spirit to hold off a Nantes side who rallied well, with Abdoulaye Toure's 32nd-minute goal setting up an entertaining second half.

Nice still have an outside chance of replicating last season's fifth-placed finish and qualifying for the Europa League once again, but with a seven-point gap to Lens, there is certainly no wriggle room left. In truth, Ursea may be content with a top-half finish to build on for next season.

Boulaye Dia pictured for Reims in August 2020© Reuters

Reims, meanwhile, are on an impressive unbeaten run of seven matches, although five of those games have been draws.

David Guion's side were involved in a hugely entertaining one against Rennes last weekend, with all four goals in the 2-2 tie scored in a wild second half.

Top goalscorer Boulaye Dia pounced on a rebound to break the deadlock after the hour mark with his 14th strike in Ligue 1 this season, before Serhou Guirassy levelled proceedings from the penalty spot.

Ghislain Konan looked to have found a winner with a rasping strike from distance, but Guirassy snatched a point for his side before Moreto Cassama saw red for a nasty tackle with five minutes remaining.

Guion will be aiming to maintain his side's unbeaten run in Nice on Sunday, with a victory taking them above their forthcoming opponents and potentially into the top half of the table.

Nice Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Nice form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W

Reims Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D



Team News


Nice defender William Saliba pictured on January 17, 2021© Reuters

Nice will be without Youcef Atal and Hichem Boudaoui due to groin and meniscus injuries respectively, with both facing a race against time to feature again this season.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Dante have been ruled out for the rest of the season with ACL injuries.

Reims, meanwhile, will be without Cassama for two matches after the midfielder's dismissal against Rennes last time out, with Dion Lopy likely to replace him at the base of the midfield.

Valon Berisha will also miss out against Nice due to a knee injury, but could return to first-team action within the next week or two.

Nice possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Daniliuc, Todibo, Saliba, Kamara; Claude-Maurice, Thuram, Lees-Melou; Maolida, Dolberg, Gouiri

Reims possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Foket, Munetsi, Faes, Konan; Mbuku, Cafaro, Lopy, Chavalerin, Doumbia; Dia


SM words green background

We say: Nice 2-1 Reims

We expect an entertaining affair between two in-form sides on Sunday, but Nice could have a little too much quality for the visitors.

Should Dia deliver as he so often has this season, though, Reims certainly have a chance of maintaining their unbeaten run.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Reims win with a probability of 38.64%. A win for Nice had a probability of 33.63% and a draw had a probability of 27.7%.

The most likely scoreline for a Reims win was 0-1 with a probability of 11.47%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.13%) and 0-2 (7.13%). The likeliest Nice win was 1-0 (10.52%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.07%). The actual scoreline of 0-0 was predicted with a 9.2% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Nice vs Reims

Nice
79.3%
Draw
20.7%
Reims
0.0%
29
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CParis Saint-GermainPSG312010176294770
2MonacoMonaco31177758411758
3Brest31168749331656
4Lille311510645271855
5Nice31149836251151
6Lens31137114034646
7Marseille31111194738944
8Lyon31135134251-944
9Rennes31119114841742
10Toulouse311010113840-240
11Reims31117133845-740
12Montpellier HSCMontpellier31911113943-437
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3199133444-1036
14NantesNantes3195172949-2032
15Le HavreLe Havre31611143041-1129
16Metz3185183251-1929
17Lorient3168173761-2426
18Clermont31510162550-2525


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