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Lille vs Reims: Ligue 1 Preview
Champions League qualification and top-flight safety will both be on the line when Lille host Reims at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday night in the final round of the 2024–25 Ligue 1 campaign.
by Berba
Lille enter the decisive fixture in fifth place, level on 57 points with fourth-placed Nice and only ahead of sixth-placed Strasbourg on goal difference. While they are currently in line for a Europa League spot, Bruno Genesio's side still have a route into the Champions League third qualifying round, which would be secured if they leapfrog Nice with a superior result this weekend.
Les Dogues missed the chance to put themselves in pole position for fourth after falling to a 2-0 defeat away to Brest last time out. However, they return to a venue where they have collected 34 points across 16 matches this season—one of the best home records in the division. Historically, Lille have also enjoyed recent success in this fixture, winning the last two Ligue 1 meetings with Reims, though they did fall to a 2-1 defeat in the corresponding match during the 2023–24 campaign.
Saturday’s game will also serve as a farewell for striker Jonathan David, who has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season. The Canadian international has netted 25 goals in 48 appearances this term and will look to sign off in style as Lille aim for a top-four finish for the second consecutive year.
On the other side, Reims are fighting to avoid a late-season plunge into the relegation playoff spot. Samba Diawara’s side are currently 14th in the table with 35 points, just two clear of 16th-placed Le Havre. A set of negative results elsewhere could still leave them vulnerable to dropping into the bottom three.
The visitors are also preparing for the Coupe de France final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 24, which offers a potential route into the Europa League next season. However, that task must wait as their immediate focus is avoiding any slip-ups that could drag them into a relegation playoff.
Reims have lost back-to-back matches against Nice and Saint-Étienne and have struggled on the road throughout the campaign, managing just four wins from 16 away games. Their attacking output will again depend heavily on Keito Nakamura, who leads the team with 12 goals from 37 appearances this season, while Jordan Siebatcheu is expected to continue in the central striking role.
In terms of team news, Lille will be without Andre Gomes, Tiago Santos, Ethan Mbappé and Edon Zhegrova due to injury, while Thomas Meunier serves a suspension. On the positive side, both Benjamin André and Bafodé Diakité return from bans and are in contention to start.
Reims, meanwhile, are missing Mohamed Daramy and Reda Khadra, but otherwise report a clean bill of health. With Ligue 1 status and cup ambitions both hanging in the balance, Diawara’s men will be aiming to finish the league campaign on solid footing before turning their attention to the final in Paris.