Sunday’s Ligue 1 matches commence in Lyon, where the team is experiencing their second-longest stretch without a win (five draws, two losses) of this century.
This downturn has affected their European ambitions and led to their exit from the Coupe de France, resulting in the appointment of new manager Paulo Fonseca. Despite a 3-2 defeat in his inaugural match at the Choc des Olympiques, he is aiming for a more successful outcome in his first home game.
Returning to their home ground is expected to boost morale, as they have secured as many clean sheets in their last six home league fixtures (four, with four wins and two draws) as they had in the previous seventeen. Achieving a third consecutive home league clean sheet would mark their best sequence since the 2017/18 season. However, facing Reims might challenge those ambitions, given that Lyon’s winning percentage against them (26% – 16 wins, 18 draws, 18 losses) is their lowest against any current Ligue 1 opponent.
Much like their hosts, Reims arrive here burdened by a concerning sequence of league matches without victory (D5, L4), marking the longest ongoing streak for any team this season. To find a more prolonged winless period in a single season for Reims, one must go back to 2012/13, which included a 3-0 loss here in Lyon. Now teetering near the relegation zone, former assistant manager Samba Diawara has been entrusted with guiding the team to safety.
Diawara has prior experience as a caretaker manager, having remained undefeated in his three matches following Will Still’s exit (W2, D1). Replicating his initial success poses a significant challenge, yet he leads a squad that has secured most of their points away from home, remaining unbeaten in two-thirds of their away league encounters this season (W3, D3, L3).
Key players to watch: Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon, who recently notched his 152nd goal in Ligue 1 during the last matchday, has the chance to break into the top 20 all-time scorers in the league with another goal this weekend. Meanwhile, American forward Jordan Siebatcheu, who has returned to Reims after stints in Switzerland and Germany, aims to replicate his previous goal-scoring success in his sole away match against Lyon.
Noteworthy statistic: In 12 of Reims’ last 15 away league matches, both teams managed to find the back of the net (80%).
