Stade Reims vs Caen preview - Mandi warns of Caen threat

Posted Saturday, August 23, 2014 by PA

Reims defender Aissa Mandi is desperate to claim all three points against Caen - a team he believes will be one of their relegation rivals this season.

While the right-back admitted the recently-promoted northern team will pose problems for them on Saturday, he sees Patrice Garande's men very much as relegation fodder.

However, Mandi also acknowledged his team are likely to be scrapping at the bottom of the table in the season run-in - despite their 11th-placed finish last term - and has urged Reims to collect their first win of the season.

"This season, our target is to maintain our position in Ligue 1. If we can reach the threshold of 42 points as quickly as possible, we will try to switch to a new target," the Algerian said in quotes on Caen's official website.

"Caen are direct competitors in the fight against relegation.

"They are a good team, difficult to manoeuvre and are riding the momentum from their promotion to Ligue 1. They are not afraid of anything."

Reims followed up an impressive 2-2 draw against top-flight champions Paris St Germain on the opening day of the season with a deflating defeat at St Etienne.

"This game is as important as that against Paris St Germain or St Etienne," Mandi added.

Caen will be without defender Emmanuel Imorou (thigh) and star striker Mathieu Duhamel (ankle) as they bid to bounce back from the defeat to Lille last week, having opened their account with a 3-1 victory over Evian.

However, defender Dennis Appiah will be available after having his red card against Lille rescinded.

Forward Herve Bazile, who could come in for Duhamel, said on the club's official Twitter feed: "We will do everything to get a good result in Reims."

"This is a team that has had several seasons in Ligue 1."