It is now to be hoped that the Sundays follow each other and are alike. Not necessarily by the number of goals scored by Stade de Reims, but more by the quality of the service and above all the good results. After the intoxication of Delaune’s match against Bordeaux, the Rémois will be faced with a completely different style of opponent this Sunday, FC Nantes. Nothing to do with the team which last season fought to the end for maintenance, even having to go to a play-off against Toulouse. This season, this FC Nantes has managed to afford a much more peaceful daily life. Nantes have 32 points (11th) and can calmly approach an exciting second part of the season with the added bonus of a Coupe de France semi-final in early March against Monaco. The Rémois are therefore warned, this FC Nantes will be difficult to handle with its offensive force but also this rigor behind.
Still 8 absentees to deplore
Even if in the first leg, Oscar Garcia’s men had managed to outclass their opponent (3-1) and afford a first victory of the season at Stade Delaune. For this meeting, the Reims coach will still be deprived of 8 players even if the good news of the week remains the gradual return of midfielder Arber Zeneli, victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the knee at the start of the season. If he will not be ready for this match at the Stade de la Beaujoire, he will probably return next week to the Delaune stadium against Brest.
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THE GROUP
- Guardians: Predrag RAJKOVIC, Yehvann DIOUF, Nicolas PENNETEAU
- Defenders: Yunis ABDELHAMID, Wout FAES, Bradley LOCKO, Maxime BUSI, Ghislain KONAN, Ibrahim DIAKITE
- Environments : Alexis FLIPS, Martin ADELINE, Azor MATUSIWA, Kamory DOUMBIA, Marshall MUNETSI, Sambou SISSOKO
- Forwards: Nathanaël MBUKU, Ilan KEBBAL, Mitchell VAN BERGEN, Fraser HORNBY, Hugo EKITIKE
- Absent: Arber ZENELI (recovery), Valon BERISHA (ischio), Andreaw GRAVILLON (foot), Jens CAJUSTE (quadriceps), Moussa DOUMBIA (adductors), Thomas FOKET (ischio), Moreto CASSAMA (knee), El Bilal TOURE (ischio), Dion LOPY (choice), Anastasios DONIS (choice)