Reims and Brest will both be looking to bounce back from respective defeats when the two sides lock horns at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Sunday's Ligue 1 fixture.
David Guion's side suffered a 2-1 defeat at high-flying Lille last time out, while Brest lost by the same scoreline against another European-chasing team in Rennes.
Match preview
© Reuters
Reims have managed to create some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the drop zone recently, but their five-game unbeaten run was brought to an abrupt end at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy last Sunday.
It was truly a game of mistakes as Reims took the lead through Arber Zeneli - whose cross evaded everyone to find the back of the net through Mike Maignan's legs - but Lille restored parity in the second 45 as Jonathan Bamba capitalised on Moreto Cassama's slip to level the scores.
Lille new boy Jonathan David has struggled to find his shooting boots so far this term, but the 21-year-old was on hand to pounce after Predrag Rajkovic's error and poke home with minutes remaining - condemning Reims to their first defeat of the calendar year.
Guion's side had won three and drawn two of their last five before last weekend's defeat - a run of form which sees them sit 15th in the table - six points clear of the bottom three after a turbulent start to the campaign.
Les Rouges et Blancs would stretch their unbeaten home run to five matches should they avoid defeat on Sunday, and the signs are certainly encouraging for Guion and co heading into the business end of the season.
© Reuters
Brest have become renowned for their high-scoring and entertaining affairs this term, but an unlikely spot in Europe now seems too far-fetched for this weekend's visitors.
Olivier Dall'Oglio's men faced a resurgent Rennes not long after being humbled 3-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, and even though Brest gave Les Rouge et Noir a good run for their money, they ultimately walked away empty-handed.
Franck Honorat took just four minutes to put Brest ahead before Benjamin Bourigeaud levelled the scores not long after, and the in-form Clement Grenier finished from 12 yards as Dall'Oglio's side lost at home for the first time since October.
With only a solitary win to boast from their last six matches, Brest have now fallen to 12th in the table and are at risk of being overtaken by both Strasbourg and Nice in gameweek 21, and only Lorient (21) have shipped more goals on the road than Les Pirates (20) this season.
Goals from Honorat and Steve Mounie helped Brest secure a 2-1 win over Reims earlier in the season, but this weekend's hosts won 1-0 on their own turf last season.
Reims Ligue 1 form: WDWDWL
Brest Ligue 1 form: DDLWLL
Team News
© Reuters
Reims midfielder Cassama endured a torrid evening against Lille and is suspended for this fixture, so Marshall Munetsi should be handed a start on Sunday.
The hosts only have two injury concerns in Anastasios Donis and Valon Berisha - neither of whom would have been likely to start here anyway.
Boulaye Dia was unable to add to the 12 goals he has already scored this season against Lille, but only Kylian Mbappe can also boast a dozen strikes this term.
Similarly, Brest also have two absentees who would have been unlikely to force their way into the first XI - defender Denys Bain and second-choice goalkeeper Sebastien Cibois.
It would be a surprise to see Dall'Oglio make any alterations for this game, but Lyon loanee Jean Lucas is pushing for a start in the engine room.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Foket, Faes, Abdelhamid, Konan; Munetsi; Zeneli, Cafaro, Chavalerin, Mbuku; Dia
Brest possible starting lineup:
Larsonneur; Pierre-Gabriel, Herelle, Chardonnet, Perraud; Honorat, Lasne, Belkebla, Faivre; Mounie, Cardona
We say: Reims 2-1 Brest
Brest have no problems finding the back of the net, but stopping the goals from going in at the other end remains a significant problem for the visitors. Two individual mistakes cost Reims against Lille, but should Guion's men manage to avoid making any similar errors this weekend, they are expected to do enough to return to winning ways.
