Reims won at home against Lille. FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI / AFP
After three straight defeats in Ligue 1, Stade de Reims won at home against Lille.
While they had the opportunity to temporarily take fourth place, the Lille fell Saturday evening in Reims (1-0), during the 34th day of Ligue 1.
Still fifth, the Mastiffs (59 pts) had the opportunity to overtake Monaco (4th, 61 pts), which travels to Angers on Sunday, and outrun Rennes (6th, 56 pts), beaten on the lawn of Nice (2- 1) in the afternoon.
A week before the clash on the Rock, Lille seemed without a solution against Rémois who were more involved and aggressive than during their last three outings, which ended in as many defeats.
The Champagne club takes 9th place before the meetings in Clermont and Lorient on Sunday.
Always as diligent and anxious to build their attacks patiently, Paulo Fonseca’s men were only very rarely dangerous.
So successful last Saturday in the victory against Ajaccio (3-0), with two assists and a goal, Rémy Cabella was transparent this time around, as was Lille’s best pyrotechnician, Jonathan David (21 goals this season), well muzzled by the Reims defence.
The Canadian international did claim a penalty on Lille’s biggest opportunity, a point-blank strike from Cabella deflected by Yehvann Diouf (56th), but the VAR dashed his hopes.
Opposite, it is Marshall Munetsi, recently extended until 2027 by the Stade de Reims, who unblocked the situation.
After a powerful strike from Azor Matusiwa, pushed back by Lucas Chevalier on Folarin Balogun, then a strike on the latter’s bar, the ball returned to the Zimbabwean who managed to finish with a header (22nd).
Nine minutes later, Chevalier, out in front of his area, tackled Munetsi’s feet to make up for a blunder by Bafodé Diakité. Referee Thomas Léonard excluded the northern doorman, before changing his mind, using the video.
Finally, it was the Rémois who were the most dangerous, with half a dozen clear chances, especially for Folarin Balogun, blocked at 18 goals for four matches now.
