A few hours before the 15th day of Ligue 1 at the Stade Auguste-Delaune (kick-off 9 p.m.), find out what you need to know about the Champagne team, currently 9th in the elite.
A duel in the first part of the table to move forward. After the defeat at Arsenal this Wednesday, the Rouge et Blanc want to make up for it, during the new trip to Reims at the Stade Auguste-Delaune (kick-off, Saturday 9 p.m.), on the program for the 15th day of Ligue 1. So a few hours before this crucial meeting in the championship, here is what you need to know about the SRFC. ????️
At the gates of European places ????????
Returned to Ligue 1 in 2018, Stade de Reims has since stabilized in the French elite. Led by Will Still – previously assistant to Oscar Garcia – from October 2022, the Champagne club finished eleventh in 2023, before the Rouge et Blanc continued their progress the following season. The Belgian coach thus obtains 9th place at the end of the 2023-2024 financial year, just four points behind the European places, before passing the torch.
New coach, new cycle ????
The young coach was thus replaced in the off-season by Luka Elsner, a major player in Le Havre’s rise to the elite. The Slovenian thus brings his ideology, with a well-defined style of play, toalternating between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1.
I have a good relationship with them. I know that they are in good form and that they are key players in the Reims squad. I’m happy to be able to play against them. Last season, during the Asian Cup, we watched the return match between the two teams together. We lost so it’s a sort of revenge for me tomorrow night. I think Japanese fans will watch the match because they are also known in the country.
Takumi MinaminoA proposal of Keito Nakamura et Junya Ito
Under his command, SRFC is a team that does not close the game and favors attacks on the sides thanks to its wingers, Keito Nakamura (six goals and an assist) and Junya Ito (3 goals and 3 assists), main architects of the Champenois’ good start to the championship. With a total of 19 points for five wins, four draws and five defeats, they are in ninth place.
The stats to watch ????
12 shots directly followed a corner hit by Junya Ito for Reims in Ligue 1 2024-2025, highest total. Three goals were also scored following a corner from Ito, second total behind Rayan Cherki (five).
Well-known names among the elders ????️
Unfortunately forfeited, Folarin Balogun could have found his former teammates again, he who passed through Reims during the 2022-2023 season. The American international is one of 19 players to have played at least one match for both teams during their career. Among them, we find players like André Hess, Michel Hidalgo, Raymond Kaelbel, Delio Onnis or more recently, Tristan Dingomé and Axel Disasi.
Players to follow ????
Cédric Kipré, a new rock in defense ????
Coming from the Paris region, the latter nevertheless very quickly left the capital to join England and Leicester. It was ultimately at Wigan and West Bromwich that he revealed himself as one of the best defenders in the Championship. Arriving in Reims in the summer of 2024, the defender moved into the central hinge with Emmanuel Agbadou.
Valentin Atangana, the tricolor hope ✨
He is a pure product of the Reims training center! Having quickly won the hearts of the supporters and his coach, who sees him as the number 1 option in midfield, Valentin Atangana reveals himself. Captain of the French U19 team during the Euro category this summer, he notably played with Mayssam Benama, Saïmon Bouabré and Lucas Michal.
Reims are a good home team, even if they lost their last match at home against Lens. (…) Coach Luka Elsner is also doing a good job, as in Le Havre before. Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura are key players in this team, Marshall Munetsi is performing well in midfield, and the central defenders are solid. In attack, the holder could be Oumar Diakité or Amine Salama. All in all, this is a great championship team.
Adi HütterAbout Stade de Reims
Oumar Diakité, among the best young Africans ????
While Lamine Camara is nominated for the best African player trophy for the second time in a row, Oumar Diakité is also in the running this year. The Ivorian striker notably won the 2024 CAN with his country. Scorer four times this season, he will undoubtedly be the number 1 danger for the Monegasque defense.
