Ligue 1 match prediction: Little separates Reims and Montpellier in quality

Both teams should be fairly well rested for this game, as they have had some quiet days to prepare. Hopefully this will translate into lots of action on the pitch.

Reims form and stats

Last season, Reims's league statistics were 9 wins, 15 draws and 14 losses, resulting in a 14th position in the Ligue 1. Over these 38 matches they scored 42 goals and conceded 50. Playing at home last season Reims managed 4-8-7 (win-draw-lost) with 16 goals and 21 conceded.

Reims shared the glory with Nice in their last match, an away game that ended all square 0-0. Defender Yunis Abdelhamid got the top score of the team in the match with a rating of 7.45/10. Abdelhamid won 8 of 12 duels.

Before that game, the home loss against Bordeaux with the scoreline 1-2.

The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Reims have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found twelve matches with the results: Won five, drawn five and lost two.

Montpellier form and stats

Let's have a look at how Montpellier performed last season in the Ligue 1: They landed a 8th position in the league table after playing out 14 victories, 12 draws and 12 defeats. In total they scored 60 and conceded 62 goals in these matches. The numbers for away games only are: Won 7 - drew 8 and lost 4 with 26/27 goals scored/conceded.

Home advantage was not enough for Montpellier in their previous game, as they lost their Ligue 1-match, hosting Olympique Marseille, 2-3. Attacker Andy Delort got a player rating of 7.44 in the game. "Man of the match" Delort . Leading 2-0 was not enough for Montpellier in their fight with Olympique Marseille last time out. Happy faces soon turned sour as mistakes flourished in what ended up a 2-3 loss.

Ahead of that match was the victory versus Nantes at their stadium, the result 2-1.

So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Montpellier playing away and similar expectations, we found twelve relevant matches. Results were four Montpellier wins, three draws and five defeats.

Head 2 Head

Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: five - one - four (Reims wins - draws - Montpellier wins). As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five had two or less.

Top Goalscorers

G. Laborde 1 goals

Reims missing players

Montpellier missing players