Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Reims
Match Time & Date:
06/05/2023
19:00
Prediction: 0-2
Lille
Stade Auguste-Delaune will host Saturday’s football match between Reims and Lille. Les Rouges et Blancs are enjoying a very successful season under “football manager” boss William Still, but they are on a three-game losing run in the Ligue 1. Reims are eager to regain their spot in top ten, but they face a difficult task against Lille. Emmanuel Agbadou is banned for the match, while both Arber Zeneli and Noah Jean Holm are out of contention through injuries.
Les Dogues, on the other hand, aim to build on a 3-0 win over Ajaccio and we predict that they will take advantage of Reims’ current form. It has to be noted that a victory could see Lille climb to the Europa League berth. Defender Tiago Djalo remains on the sidelines with an ACL injury, but he should be the only absentee in the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Jose Fonte):
Born in Penafiel in 1983, Jose Miguel Da Rocha Fonte spent his early career in the lower divisions of the Portugal’s league system, and while he did join giants Benfica in 2006, he never made a single league appearance for the Eagles.
The loan spell with Crystal Palace proved crucial for the towering defender as he later secured a permanent move to Selhurst Park, performing well in three Championship campaigns. Fonte then surprised everyone when he joined League One side Southampton, but that would prove to be the best decision he has ever made, as he helped the Saints return to the Premier League before establishing himself as one of the leading central defenders in the elite division.
Rated for his aerial ability, but also quite capable on the ground, Jose Fonte even caught the eye of England’s top clubs, although a big club move never materialised for him. The late bloomer eventually played himself into the first team plans of Portugal coach Fernando Santos, making his Selecao debut at the age of 30.
Highlighted Team (Reims):
Reims are a French football club founded in 1931. Reims welcome their rivals at Stade Auguste Delaune, which can hold up to 21,684 people. Believe it or not, Reims won six Ligue 1 titles (1948/1949, 1952/1953, 1954/1955, 1957/1958, 1959/1960, 1961/1962). To make things even better for the fans, Reims participated in the European Cup final on two occasions.
In 1956 they faced Real Madrid in the title game and despite taking the lead after six minutes, the French side eventually suffered a 4-3 loss to los Blancos at Parc des Princes. Three years later Reims had a chance to get their revenge on Real Madrid, but the Spanish giants once again won the European Cup, with Mateos and Di Stefano finding the net in the 2-0 victory over Albert Batteux.
The club’s most notable footballer is Just Fontaine, who scored 13 goals for France at the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. Reims’ home colours are red and white, with the team wearing white when playing on the road.
