Paris Saint-Germain Vs Reims
Paris Saint-Germain Vs Reims Sunday 16th May 2021 – 20:00
French Ligue 1
Pick: PSG Win & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 2/1
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 13th May 2021)
Preview: For defending champions PSG, the margin for error as we approach the penultimate round in this enthralling Ligue 1 season simply isn’t there. Therefore only three points at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, at home to a strong travelling Reims outfit, will suffice.
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Table of Contents
Paris Saint-Germain – Leaky Parisiens in must-win territory?
Mauricio Pochettino could conceivably mark his debut season in France with a league and cup double, after watching his PSG side crawl into a seventh successive final of the Coupe de France on Wednesday. Kylian Mbappe, featuring for the first time since the first-leg of their ill-fated Champions League semi-final, scored both goals in a 2-2 draw with Montpellier before the Parisians sneaked through on penalties.
Mbappe’s return could be crucial on both fronts, but particularly in Ligue 1 where PSG (W24 D4 L8) simply must beat Reims this weekend, followed by Brest on the final matchday, and hope leaders Lille fail to pick up four points from their remaining fixtures. This after Pochettino’s side dropped two precious points last time out, in a 1-1 draw at European-chasing Rennes, to fall three behind the long-time frontrunners.
All they can do is take care of themselves, and PSG should do that despite an inconsistent campaign which has seen them fail to win 12 of 36 matches so far. Prior to the stalemate in Rennes, though, the Parisiens recorded four straight victories, scoring 12. However, it is now eight successive Ligue 1 matches without a clean sheet, conceding in each of the last six at Parc des Princes (W3 L3).
Reims – Les Rouges et Blancs seeking another Paris upset?
Two defeats in three Ligue 1 outings for Reims (W9 D15 L12), as many as they managed across fourteen previous matches in the competition (W4 D8). Both were at Stade Auguste-Delaune, where they play their home games in northern France, with it interesting to note they are currently unbeaten on their travels since February – a five-game unbeaten run they will no doubt be determined to preserve in Paris.
There is every reason to believe head coach David Guion will witness his team produce a bold showing, at the very least, on Sunday. Since the start of this season, Reims have scored in 14 of 18 away fixtures, and in four of the most recent five following their 2-2 draw in Nimes last time. Meanwhile their record away to the sides currently in the top-half reads W1 D5 L3, scoring in all but their trips to Lyon and Nice.
Furthermore, the Rouge et Blancs possess previous in Paris. Goals from Hassane Kamara and Boulaye Dia, the club’s leading scorer in 2020-21 with 14 Ligue 1 goals, earning them a maiden victory away to PSG during the first half of last season’s curtailed campaign. The first time they had avoided defeat here in six visits. A repeat might be beyond them but a goal, against this brittle home defence, seemingly isn’t.
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PSG Vs Reims Betting Advice
It can be a balancing act in these final throes of a season, especially one where you are still competing on more than one front. PSG manager Mauricio almost got it horribly wrong in midweek, though, starting Neymar and Angel Di Maria on the bench as their semi-final with Montpellier went to penalties. PSG progressed, but it was anything but convincing, as has been the case throughout their season run-in.
Paris Saint-Germain Vs Reims – Key Facts:
- Prior to last season’s surprise 2-0 loss in this fixture, PSG had won all five home Ligue 1 meetings against Reims, who have now scored on each of their past four visits to Parc des Princes.
- PSG are without a clean sheet in their past eight Ligue 1 matches (W5 D1 L2), including the last six as hosts (W3 L3).
- Reims have scored away to seven of the nine teams currently occupying the Ligue 1’s top ten, netting at top of the table Lille (lost 2-1) and third-place Monaco (2-2).
PSG must win. Yet each of their past five Ligue 1 victories seen them concede on at least one occasion, having not kept a clean sheet in any of their previous eight matches in the competition. They’ve not done so in Paris, meanwhile, since 3 February (6 games). The latest visitors to Parc des Princes are Reims; 2-0 victors in this fixture in 2019, unbeaten in five away from home, having scored in 14 of 18 away fixtures this season.
Best Betting Odds – Paris Saint-Germain Vs Reims
Paris Saint-Germain – 1/9 (Betway)
Draw – 10/1 (Betfair)
Reims – 22/1 (PaddyPower)
