OSC Lille vs Stade de Reims Best odds and tips

OSC Lille are clear favourites for Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash with Stade de Reims at 1.49 and a win for the visitors would be a huge upset at 9.0. The hosts are fifth in the table with 57 points from 33 games and still have European aspirations while Reims, who are 14th with 33 points from 33 games, appear destined to finish in the bottom half of the table. Lille have not lost at home in their last two Ligue 1 fixtures, winning one and drawing the other, but they failed to beat Reims in their last two home meetings and this could be another stumbling block. Bruno Genesio has been Lille’s boss since 5th June 2024 and he has brought tactical flexibility and a reputation for instilling attacking impetus. Lille play with the ball and without it in a high-tempo style, preferring to press and win it back rather than sit back and defend. Jonathan David is their main man up front with 16 goals in 31 Ligue 1 appearances this season and he is always a problem for opposition defenders. Edon Zhegrova offers the creativity to unlock packed defences with his trickery and vision.

Reims are more pragmatic in their approach, usually setting up in a 4-4-2 system and looking to absorb pressure before hitting on the counter or from set pieces. Samba Diawara took charge in February 2025 and immediately set about making the team more compact and defensively sound. Yunis Abdelhamid is the experienced and vocal leader at the heart of the defence, while Junya Ito offers the pace and crossing ability to make things happen down the wings. Keito Nakamura is their danger man in attack with 11 goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances this season and he has scored two of his team’s three recent goals. Reims have won four, drawn five and lost seven of their 16 away Ligue 1 fixtures this season, so there is no doubt that Lille are the favourites to win this game. But with European places on the line for the hosts and league safety for the visitors, this should be a hard-fought affair. Lille score an average of 1.81 goals per game at home in Ligue 1 and concede 1.06 while Reims have only scored 15 times in 16 away league games, averaging 0.94 goals per game.

Lille’s defence is well organised and can hold firm against a Reims side that is not prolific in front of goal, so the value bet here could be on under 2.5 goals. Reims have won one, drawn one and lost one of their last three away Ligue 1 fixtures and Lille have drawn one and won one of their last two home games, so it is difficult to see how the visitors can get a win. But they are well organised and could make it a tighter affair than the odds suggest. Leny Yoro is a young centre-back with a cool head and aerial prowess that will give Lille a solid base to build from and his presence could make the difference in what should be a tight, tense and tactical clash.