Angers vs Reims Prediction: Ligue 1 outsiders to share points in a head-to-head clash

On 31 August 2022, Angers will host Reims at the Stade Raymond Kopa in round 5 of the French Ligue Championship.

Angers are the most typical mid-table side in the French Ligue 1. In the 2015/16 season, the Black and Whites secured the long-awaited promotion, after which they have dwelled exactly on the equator of the standings for seven consecutive years: finishing in places 9 to 14. In the current league season, they got off to a poor start - first, they drew 0-0 and 2-2 with Nantes and Auxerre, respectively, then suffered defeats at the hands of Brestois and Troyes with the same score of 1-3. Gerald Baticle's charges will soon face the toughest part of the season when they will be playing with the top clubs in the league, so they need to cling to at least some points in the near future.

Reims are another team that has been struggling in recent years, falling in the middle of the French league, but they managed to break into the European competitions a few years ago. Those days are gone, and now the Red and Whites are desperately trying to climb out of the cellar. The current league campaign got off to a rocky start. In the first two meetings, Oscar Garcia's charges took turns losing to Marseille and Clermont - 1:4 and 2:4, respectively, gradually progressing. In their two previous matches, they had shared points with Strasbourg and Lyon - 1-1 each, and against the Lions, they had to play with one man down from the 63rd minute.

Throughout their history, the teams have held 74 face-to-face meetings. The Black and Whites have 23 wins, while the Red and Whites have been stronger in 32 games - 19 games ended in a draw. The goal difference is also on the visitors' side in the upcoming clash - 117-101. Last season, the opponents met twice: first, Angers posted a 2-1 win, and then Reims were the stronger side, -1-0.

Angers and Reims started the current season very poorly. At the end of four rounds, they have failed to score a single win, playing twice in a draw and two defeats, which is why they are among the Ligue 1 outsiders. So, at the end of the upcoming clash, getting three points at once will be difficult, but grabbing one point at a time is a good thing. A draw is the most popular recent result for these opponents, as they failed to pick a winner four times in their previous eight fixtures. As a result, a bet on a draw for 3.30 is in order.

We shouldn't expect high-scoring activity from the upcoming encounter either. As we have already stated, both teams are not in their best form right now, so it is unlikely they will be looking to play bright and attacking football. They lack the courage to do so. In a head-to-head encounter, playing reliably at the net is more important, minimizing the risk of mistakes. Moreover, in the last four head-to-head encounters, they have only drawn five goals between them (1.25 goals per game on average), so Total Under 2.5 goals for 1.73 would be even better.

If anyone is to be expected to score in the upcoming match, it is Reims forward Folarin Balogun. The Arsenal pupil moved to Ligue 1 in the off-season to get some game practice, which he has started to receive in full, becoming a real leader for the Red and Whites. He has already scored three goals in four games, although his new team has scored a combined total of just five goals (60% for the young Englishman). The 21-year-old footballer is in great shape, so it is worth looking at the bet on Folarin Balogun's goal for 3.74.