Stade Reims vs Paris Saint Germain Prediction: PSG will get back to goal scoring form

This highly anticipated Ligue 1 matchup pits Stade Reims against Paris Saint-Germain this coming September 21, 2024. Reims, sitting at 6th in the table, looks to maintain their strong start to the season as league leaders PSG look to keep their perfect mark in the season. Both teams come into this match in positive form, and thus it promises to be an intense, tactically intriguing, high-stake match.

Reims have been solid this season as they managed to win 2 and draw 1 in the opening four games. They've won their last two matches by a 2-1 margin away from home against Nantes thus keeping the unbeaten streak going for three games. Despite a decent possession share of 55%, winning 60% of their defensive tackles, Reims showed vulnerability in attack, creating no big chances. The likes of Marshall Munetsi and Keito Nakamura, scorers in the last game, are very key in their attack.

Reims have shown their mixed defensive solidity as they have managed to let in 6 goals so far into the first few games; they have held their own, though, due in large part to their grit. Streaks such as "both teams scoring" in 4 of their last 5 matches and "over 2.5 goals" in 4 out of 5 games have shown their penchant for open, goal-laden affairs. The biggest worry for Reims would be a tendency to concede first in 5 of the last 6 games, which means a slow start may leave them chasing against a more clinical PSG.

Reims lines up in a 4-3-3 formation that gives balance between defense and attack. In this setup, their midfield will be the most important part; Marshall Munetsi plays the role of a box-to-box midfielder who offers his support both for the defense and attack. The pace of Keito Nakamura in depth will be very much essential if Reims wants to trouble the PSG backline.

The defensive stats of Reims point out that they can win duels and tackles, but the tendency to see the opposition score first could be rooted in slight lapses in concentration every now and then. They are strong with respect to long balls at 47% and crosses at 21%, which could expose PSG should the Parisians push their full-backs high. But they will have to up their ante on creating clear chances-0 big chances against Nantes, for instance-to unsettle the solid defense of PSG.

PSG are in scintillating form as they have won all four Ligue 1 matches thus far and furthered that with a 1-0 win over Girona in the UEFA Champions League. They had dominance in possession with 64%, created three big chances, and scored a goal despite the own goal from Girona's Paulo Gazzaniga. They were sound at the back since they were able to limit Girona to just one shot on target, proving how tough they are to break down.

The Parisians have been relentless in attack this season, averaging five shots on target and opening the score in eight of their last ten matches, with some sparkling individual performances from stars like Kylian Mbappé, who has been instrumental in most attacks. That was proof enough that PSG can dominate games from the first minute to the last. The current winning streak for the club stands at five while not having lost in the last ten matches across all competitions.

The 4-3-3 system is one that allows fluidity for PSG; wide forwards, such as Mbappé, operate inside to create overloads in the central area of the pitch, thus enabling full-backs to overload the opponents. That is why the Parisians often boss possession-64% in their last match-and look to build their attacks while being organized at the back.

One of PSG's tactical strengths is their ability to recover the ball quickly after losing it; this reflects their high rate of duels won at 49% and defending tackles won at 67%. PSG will most probably look to control the game from midfield against Reims, with quick transitions and technical quality superior to that of their opponents in exploiting the gaps in Reims' backline. The fact is that PSG fashioned three big chances against Girona.

Of their last 20 meetings, PSG has dominated 12 matches, while Reims managed to win 3; 5 of those ended in a draw. The two teams last met in March 2024, when Reims pulled a surprise on the visitors, managing to hold them to a 2-2 draw-a demonstration of how it can be possible for Reims to overturn them. In head-to-head comparisons, PSG remains unbeaten in the last 9 matches against Reims, something that could become an advantage in determining a psyched approach to this match.

Considering PSG's form in the league this season and the way they have humbled Reims in recent matches, they will enter this tie as overwhelming favorites. Reims has been competitive, but their penchant for conceding first and PSG's efficiency at scoring early will give them the edge visiting.

Both teams have been in high-scoring games, with Reims seeing over 2.5 goals in 4 of their last 5 matches and PSG in 4 of their last 5. Given the attacking clout which PSG possesses and how poorly Reims can defend at times, there should be at least three goals in this game.

Lastly, despite PSG's solid defensive record, Reims has shown a knack for scoring, especially at home. Their GG streak of 4 in the last 5 games does prove that they are capable of getting on the score sheet. Thus, my more likely prediction would be "Both Teams to Score.".

• Away Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.63 Odds
• Away Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.89 Odds
• Correct Score 1:2 @ 8.50 Odds