The Rémois are decidedly badly paid. Author of a very good performance for almost an hour, the Stade de Reims will have to settle for a point against Lyon. In itself, the result against such a team is not infamous. But the scenario can, once again, leave many regrets. The first minutes were certainly Rhone. Depriving the Rémois of the ball, the Lyonnais camped in the opposing camp without however being really dangerous. So little by little, the locals came out better and better, taking advantage of calls from Junya Ito and Folarin Balogun. On several occasions, the Japanese international worried the Lyon goalkeeper. He was finally rewarded in the 24th minute, when Maxime Busi, from the right, sent him a perfect cross. Ito’s beautiful relaxation and uncrossed header made the difference against a flabbergasted Rémy Riou.
Lyon’s reaction is timid, well helped by constant pressing from Reims. Embarrassed, the visitors suffered the hard-hitting counterattacks from Reims. It was even necessary that the Rémois did not benefit from a penalty. But Folarin Balogun exaggerated his fall a little too much to deceive the referee of the day. The return from the locker room is of the same caliber. Reims is not weakening and the entry of Jens Cadjust offers additional sweats to the Lyonnais. But a poorly controlled tackle from Dion Lopy pushes Jérémy Stinat to show the red card. An expulsion which will be worth the ire of President Jean-Pierre Caillot after the match. Reduced to ten, the Stade de Reims resisted the enemy assaults for a long time. By dint of bending, they ended up cracking. Well served by Rayan Cherki, Moussa Dembélé rose higher than Andrew Gravillon in the aerial duel and also placed an unstoppable header for a hitherto impeccable Patrick Pentz. The Reims goalkeeper was also decisive in a delicate end to the match. Reims take only one point this time, but he has once again shown qualities that should make the club take off soon. Why not in Angers, from Wednesday.
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