29 September 2021, 16:54 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The French Ligue 1 fixture, RC Lens vs. Stade de Reims kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Matchday 9, Friday, October 1, at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Preview Lens Ligue 1, Oct 1, 2021
Preview RC Lens picked up a famous 3-2 win over Marseille last Sunday at the Stade Vélodrome. Florian Sotoca (9' P.) handed Lens the lead in the opening minutes from the penalty spot after the VAR spotted a handball in the box. Minutes later, Lens’ Przemyslaw Frankowski (27') left two directly ahead of him, before firing a left-footed curler over a wall of three, and around the goalkeeper for the second. But an exquisite freekick from Dimitri Payet (33') saw Marseille cut the deficit down to one, three minutes over the half-hour mark. A penalty in added time after the first forty-five saw Marseille retore parity after Dimitri Payet (45'+3 P.) converted from twelve yards for the brace. But a late goal from Wesley Saïd (71') gave Lens all three points. The victory leaves the club with their fourth win of the season, and the third in five games: DWWLW. Lens remain in 2nd place, 9 points behind first-placed PSG, having picked up 15 points after 4W, 3D, & 1L. Following an average of 1.75 goals per game, Lens has 14 goals in eight French Ligue 1 appearances. However, the club has conceded 10 times (1.25 goals conceded-per-game) and has a G.D. of +4. Franck Haise aims to extend the remarkable form on Friday with a win over mid-table Reims when they welcome the Red and Whites to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. Three at the back with three in front, fashioned in the attacking 3—4—3 formation is expected from Haise once again. - With Arnaud Kalimuendo playing through the middle. A fully fit squad awaits Haise ahead of his selection on Matchday 9.
Preview Reims Ligue 1, Oct 1, 2021
Preview Reims are in 11th place on the Ligue 1 table, with 10 points after 2W, 4D, & 2L. On Matchday 8, Les Rouges et Blancs defeated the Yellow House, 3-1, at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II. Moses Simon (62') bagged Nantes' only goal while a brace from Hugo Ekitike (72' & 78'), coupled with a goal from Thomas Foket (51') saw Reims pick up their second win of the season. With 10 goals after eight Ligue 1 games, Reims has an average of 1.25 goals scored per game. The Red & Whites have conceded 9 goals (1.12 goals-per-match) so far, and have a G.D. of +1. Manager Óscar García could utilize the 3—4—1—2 formation with Koffi and Mitchell van Bergen in attack. On availability, Arbër Zeneli is ruled out for this fixture having suffered a cruciate ligament rupture.