Ligue 1 | Gameweek 16

Jan 4, 2025 at 4pm UK

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard

St Etienne vs Reims

Match preview

A new era begins at Saint-Etienne as Eirik Horneland takes charge of his first Ligue 1 fixture this weekend, following the sacking of Olivier Dall'Oglio last month.

The Norwegian coach, who led Brann to the First Division title in 2022 and the Norwegian Football Cup in 2022-23, has his work cut out to turn around a club that has languished near the bottom of the standings all season.

After 15 games in Ligue 1, they have lost 10 games, only the second time in their 69 top-flight appearances that they have lost that many games at this stage of the competition (11 in 2008-09).

Saint-Etienne are on a four-match losing streak in all competitions, having won just one of their last five competitive matches (1-0 against Montpellier HSC).

All their domestic victories in 2024-25 have come at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, with 12 of their 13 points coming in Saint-Etienne.

They have failed to find the back of the net on eight occasions this season, while they have also been beaten by four goals or more on three occasions.

Another side who have struggled to find the back of the net of late are Stade de Reims, who have failed to find the net in three consecutive top-flight matches.

If they fail to find the net this weekend, it will be their longest goalless drought in the competition since October 2015 (four).

At the same time, Luka Elsner's men have not conceded in consecutive domestic matches, while they ended 2024 with a solid 3-1 win over amateur side Still-Mutzig.

They enter 2025 four points adrift of Nice in the race for next season's Europa Conference League spot, having taken at least a point from their last six top-flight fixtures in January.

Three of their five Ligue 1 victories in 2024-25 have come away from home, just two fewer than they managed in all of last season.

Reims are unbeaten in their last six Ligue 1 meetings with Saint-Etienne, having claimed four victories over that period, including a 2-1 triumph on their last visit to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in May 2022..

Recent Performance

Saint-Etienne Ligue 1 form:WLWLLL

Saint-Etienne form (all competitions):LWLLLL

Reims Ligue 1 form:LWDLDD

Reims form (all competitions):WDLDDW

Team News

Several Saint-Etienne players are doubtful for this weekend's match, including Ben Old, Yvann Macon and Anthony Briancon, who all have knee problems, while Mickael Nade is out with a cruciate ligament injury.

Aimen Moueffek may miss Saturday's game with a knock, Augustine Boakye has a physical problem, Thomas Monconduit has a thigh injury and Ibrahima Wadji could be ruled out with an unspecified problem.

Ibrahim Sissoko has been banned for seven games for his red card in the 4-0 Coupe de France defeat to Marseille, five of which were bookable, while Lucas Stassin scored the only goal in the last Ligue 1 game.

For Reims, Reda Khadra is out with a cruciate ligament injury, while Abdoul Kone and Maxime Busi are doubtful with hamstring strains.

A knee problem could keep Mohamed Daramy out of this weekend's clash, while Joseph Okumu is currently nursing a groin strain.

Yehvann Diouf has kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Reims goal and leads the league in clean sheets (7.3) this season.

Possible starting lineup

Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:

Larsonneur; Batubinsika, Abdelhamid, Petrot; Appiah, Fomba, Tardieu, Mouton, Cornud; Davitashvili, Stassin

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Buta, Agbadou, Kipre, Akieme; Kone, Atangana; Ito, Munetsi, Nakamura; Diakite