Lille vs. Reims Ligue 1 preview: Dogues keen for strong end to mixed campaign

Posted by
Simon Kjaer Lille

LOSC Lille host Stade de Reims on Saturday as they look to end the season strongly.

When: 7.00 pm GMT, 4 April 2015

Where: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille

Rene Girard’s Lille risk falling into a malaise with little to play for as we move towards the end of the season. Les Dogues have won three of their last five, but those triumphs were sandwiched between two muted defeats—to SC Bastia and, before the international break, against AS Saint-Etienne.

That match pushed ASSE a whopping 11 points ahead of the Mastiffs, while Girondins de Bordeaux and Montpellier Herault are ahead of them in the race for the European places.

Lille do, actually, have a fine recent home record—they have won five of their last seven in front of their home fans, losing only one—and should have enough to overcome relegation strugglers Stade de Reims.

The home side have also been boosted by the news that Vincent Enyeama has overcome the bad back he suffered while on international duty for Nigeria and will likely be available.

Important midfielder Florent Balmont and Rony Lopes will, however, be absent through suspension.

Reims have lost their last two and won only one of their last six. The Champenois are slipping worryingly close to the drop zone and head into this weekend’s fixtures only three points ahead of 18th-place Toulouse.

SEE MORE:
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Reims news
Lille’s Enyeama looking likely to return vs. Reims

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