Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Reims and Saint Etienne, the two bottom-table sides, face each other at Stade Auguste-Delaune in what is expected to be a close encounter. Reims have been in a fine form of late, with the team beating both Nantes and Bordeaux, while sharing the spoils with Marseille and Dijon. Les Rouges et Blancs aim to give fans yet another reason for celebration, and we are positive that they will go for a win in Saturday’s clash.
Les Verts, on the other hand, are undefeated in the previous seven league fixtures. Saint Etienne did well to hold star-studded PSG to a 1-1 draw in midweek, and, taking everything into account, they are likely to grab something from the Stade Auguste-Delaune clash. Gabriel, Khazri, and Macon are all out of contention with injuries for the visitors, while Reims boss David Guion can’t count on Greece international Donis.
Highlighted Player (Moussa Doumbia):
A Malian midfielder Moussa Doumbia has been with Russian side FK Rostov since 2014. The 22-year-old powerful midfielder started his career with Real Bamako in 2012. Doumbia spent two years playing for the Scorpions in the Malien Premiere Division, the top rank in the country. Russian side recognised his talent and made a transfer in 2014 tying Moussa Doumbia on a four-year deal.
During two seasons with Russian Premier League outfit, Doumbia was involved in 31 league matches. In 2015-16 season he contributed to his club’s runners-up finish with two goals of his own. Full-time Mali international made his national team debut in 2014 in a 3-1 victory over China in Shenzen.
His most recent international appearances occurred in September during an empathic 5-2 win over Benin in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Doumbia went on to score his team’s fifth goal with eleven minutes on the clock rounding off an impressive performance.
Highlighted Team (St Etienne):
Saint Etienne are a professional football club that compete in French Ligue 1. Les Verts were founded in 1919 by employees of a grocery store chain based in Saint Etienne. Saint Etienne wear green shirts and white shorts when playing at home ground and they play their home matches at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
The stadium was opener on 13 September, 1931 and following the renovation the capacity of the venue increased to 42 000. In 1981 les Verts won their tenth Ligue 1 trophy, but they have been in the shadow of Ligue 1 giants Lyon and PSG in the 21st century.
Speaking of the club’s European success, Saint Etienne made it to the European Cup (Champions League) final in 1976, but Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich proved to be a big catch for the French outfit. Anyhow, that is regarded as the club’s biggest success. It has to be noted that the likes of Michel Platini, Jacques Santini, Laurent Blanc and Aime Jacquet all played for Saint Etienne in the past.