Saint Etienne vs Reims Prediction & Betting Tips - Ligue 1

Prediction published on 11/05/2022, 15:12  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 11/05/2022 at 16:13 in Ligue 1 Predictions

St Etienne have been in Ligue 1 since the 2004/05 season but could be relegated in the next week or so. With two games remaining, they are 18th in the table and host Reims who are 12th. Finishing 18th would take St Etienne into the relegation play-offs with three teams from Ligue 2. Their relegation fears intensified on Wednesday when losing 4-2 away at Nice. They led 2-0 at half-time in that game but by the 62nd minute were 3-2 down and then conceded another rather than get back level. That loss leaves them three points behind 17th placed Lorient who have a far superior goal difference. More worrying is the possibility they might slip down to 19th and that would see them automatically relegated. They are three points ahead of Metz, who play Angers at home and have a better goal difference than St Etienne. One hope for St Etiennne is that while their final game is at Nantes, Metz travel to champions PSG. The loss to Nice was the third in a row for St Etienne with 12 goals conceded. St Etienne have only won four home games this season and lost eight. Only one of their last four home league fixtures has been won. They have been struggling to keep home clean sheets with just one in the last 19 league games played.

Reims have little to play for in this fixture. There’s no chance of European football next season and there are no relegation fears. Reims have only won five away league games but three of those have come in the last five played. Their most recent away league victory was a 2-1 win at Lorient. Before that, they’d failed to score in two away fixtures. Only two of their last eight games in Ligue 1 have been won. The most recent one saw them lose 2-1 at home to Lens after leading 1-0. St Etienne need the points but that defence of theirs is a major worry. Back both teams to score in this game.