Reims travel to the Stade de la Beaujoire to face Nantes in Ligue 1 on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors' sensational unbeaten run came to an end shortly before the international break.

Match preview

No matter what happens this weekend, in this fixture or elsewhere, Nantes will not move in the table, but that does not mean this is not a crucial game for Antoine Kombouare's side.

Sat in 14th, Nantes are four points ahead of Strasbourg and four points below Clermont, but are still far from safe, with seven points separating them and the drop zone.

After earning just two points from their last five league matches, Nantes have been sucked back into the relegation picture.

Their home form has been of concern recently too, especially considering it is usually such a strong feature of a Nantes side.

Two defeats in their last four games at the Stade de la Beaujoire is as many as they suffered in the 20 previous home games before that.

On four of the last five occasions Nantes have had so few points at this stage of a Ligue 1 season - 30 from 28 games - they finished in the bottom four, a scenario which would relegate them given the additional relegation spot added for this season.

A pleasing point away to Lyon last time out was a satisfactory way to finish before the international break, and they may need another one here at least.

Defeat at home to second-placed Marseille in their last game before the break saw Reims' incredible 19-game unbeaten streak come to an end.

It also meant they have lost crucial ground in the race for Europe too, as Rennes' shock win at Paris Saint-Germain means Reims are now seven points off the pace.

If they are to kick on and find the victories required to chase down the top six, goals need to come in a more plentiful supply, as Reims are the lowest scorers in the top 12, and no side outside the relegation zone has scored fewer away from home.

Having a solid defence has helped them maintain a push for now, and they could keep a fourth consecutive clean sheet on the road for the first time in 70 years if they can shut Nantes out here.

Despite the lack of goals on the road, their stubbornness at avoiding defeat has been remarkable, as only Toulouse have beaten them in an away game since the opening day, doing so twice in the league and the cup.

Folarin Balogun remains in form for Will Still's side, scoring in back-to-back games before the internationals, taking his tally to 17 in Ligue 1, only behind Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David.

Team News

Groin injuries for Nantes duo Pedro Chirivella and Quentin Merlin are set to rule both players out of this one, while Marcus Coco and Charles Traore are also expected to miss out with minor injuries.

Andy Delort has 62 Ligue 1 goals in the last four-and-a-half years, but he has struggled to make much of an impact since arriving from Nice in January.

Still has almost a full-strength Reims squad to choose from again here.

Noah Holm is the only injury concern as he missed Norway Under-21 duty last week, but he could return soon.

Myziane Maolida and Emmanuel Agbadou both returned to the matchday squad against Marseille last time out after brief absences.

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Joao Victor, Pallois, Castelletto, Centonze; Girotto, Sissoko, Mollet; Blas, Delort, Simon

Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Foket, Keita, Abdelhamid, De Smet; Matusiwa, Lopy, Munetsi; Ito, Balogun, Flips

We say: Nantes 0-0 Reims

There have been just eight goals in the last seven meetings between these two sides, including two 0-0s at this ground.

Reims' rearguard will more than likely play a big role in how this encounter ends up, and it is tough to see anything other than another low-scoring affair given recent form.


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