06 November 2021, 12:02 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The French Ligue 1 fixture, Stade de Reims vs. AS Monaco, kicks off at 15:00 (GMT+1) on Sunday, November 7, at the Stade Auguste Delaune.
Preview Reims Ligue 1, Nov 7, 2021
Preview Reims failed to keep a two-goal lead in what eventually became a 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux. The visitors started on the front foot, with two early shots in a bid to test the credentials of Bordeaux's goalkeeper. Seven minutes after the half-hour mark, Hugo Ekitike (37') broke the deadlock for the visitors. Bradley Locko (63') struck and doubled Reims’ lead three minutes after the hour mark, with a fabulous strike from the edge of the box. Reims appeared to be heading home with three points in the bag until things took a dramatic turn after the introduction of Bordeaux’s Jimmy Briand. Briand was making his 500th appearance in Europe’s top-flight football. Yacine Adli (73') cut Reims’ lead to one before the second-half substitute, Jimmy Briand (78'), got the equalizer. Deep into stoppage time, the 36-year-old bagged the brace (90'+5 P.), from the spot, to condemn Reims to back-to-back defeats: WLDLL. The disappointing loss saw Reims drop one spot from 16th to 17th place on the Ligue 1 table, having picked up 11 points after 2W, 5D, & 5L. A focus on the numbers leaves Reims with an average goal ratio of 1.17 goals per game, having scored 14 times in twelve appearances. At their end, they have conceded 17 goals (1.42 goals conceded per game), and thus have a goal difference of -3. Óscar García will look to pick up at least a draw in Sunday’s game against Monaco when he lines up the 4—2—3—1 formation with Ekitike at the top.
Preview Monaco Ligue 1, Nov 7, 2021
Preview Meanwhile, AS Monaco will be making their return from the goalless draw against PSV on Thursday, UEFA Europa League Matchday 4. Back on the home front, the eight-time Ligue 1 champions slipped down two spots, from 8th to 10th place, following the 2-0 defeat to Brest last weekend. Monaco has 17 points after 5W, 2D, and 5L and returns to Ligue 1 with the form: WWLWL, ahead of this weekend's match against Reims. The club has 17 goals from twelve Ligue 1 games, - an average of 1.42 goals scored per game. However, over the course of the current season, Les Monégasques have conceded 16 goals (1.33 goals per match) and have a goal difference of +1. An outright win will be on Niko Kovac’s mind when Monaco makes another Ligue 1 appearance on Sunday. A 4—4—2 formation with Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland in attack is expected against Reims.