Geneva (AFP)

Mistreated throughout the match, Reims still managed its reunion with Europe by winning its ticket for the third qualifying round of the Europa League after its victory (1-0) on the lawn of Servette in Geneva on Thursday.

The Champagne club, which won thanks to a goal from the Kosovar international Valon Berisha, who scored early in the game (4th), will move next Thursday to the lawn of the Hungarians of Fehervar, winners of the Maltese of Hibernians (1 -0).

The Rémois will have to be wary of this opponent who had eliminated Bordeaux in the C3 play-offs only three years ago.

Double finalist in the Champion Clubs' Cup against Real Madrid (1956, 1959), Reims returned to the European scene after more than 57 years of absence.

And he recorded his first success since the correction (5-0) inflicted on Austria Vienna thanks in particular to a double from Raymond Kopa in the round of 16 second leg of C1 on November 14, 1962 ...

But David Guion's players suffered throughout the match to get rid of an enthusiastic but clumsy Servette team, which had finished 4th in the last Swiss championship.

Deprived of their captain and central defense boss Yunis Abdelhamid, tested positive for Covid-19, the Marne players sometimes seemed lost and were often cornered in front of their surface by the Genevans.

From the start of the match, played behind closed doors, the Servette took control of operations and obtained the first opportunity, a free kick from Miroslav Stevanovic which was cleared with his fist by Predrag Rajkovic (2nd).

But the Stade de Reims was super efficient by opening the scoring on his first foray into the area: shifted to the left, the Swiss Derek Kutesa, trained at Servette, fixed his defender before delivering a center victoriously taken over by Berisha ( 0-1, 4th).

This goal gave a boost to the Swiss, supported by noisy supporters gathered outside the stadium, who then multiplied the situations by Stevanovic (11th), Kastriot Imeri (13th) or even Timothé Cognat (17th).

Rajkovic was then vigilant on a header from Imeri (35th) and a strike from Varol Tasar (44th).

In difficulty, the Rémois reacted timidly, with two shots off target from Kutesa (24th) and Berisha (31st).

After the break, the Servette continued to push, like this strike from Grejohn Kyei, the striker trained in Reims, countered in extremis by Marshall Munetsi (48th) or a powerful shot from Imeri just above. above (50th).

Without being brilliant, Reims however filled the gaps better than in the first period and conceded few chances.

The Champenois even managed to worry the Swiss defense, notably missing the break by El Bilal Touré (60th) or Kaj Sierhuis, who found the post (90th + 3).

Fortunately for them, they had provided the essentials earlier, thus avoiding an extension with an uncertain outcome.

© 2020 AFP