Reims (AFP)

Monaco is back on the podium in Ligue 1 by winning Sunday in Reims (1-0), a narrow success that allows him to overtake Lyon and put pressure on Paris SG, two days from time.

A week after their loss at home (3-2) against Lyonnais yet outnumbered, ASM reacted well and recovered third place, synonymous with qualification for the Champions League, at the expense of OL who had dominated Saturday Lorient (4-1).

The Rocher players, who total 74 points, returned to a length of PSG, before the difficult trip of the champions of France to Rennes (7th) in the evening.

Two days from the end of the season, the Lille leader, winner of the derby in Lens on Friday (3-0), seems on the other hand inaccessible with already 79 units on the clock.

It was the young Belgian midfielder Eliot Matazo (19) who offered the victory to Niko Kovac's men by scoring his first professional goal at the start of the match after a great action.

Without being brilliant, Monaco, who monopolized the ball but struggled to be dangerous, provided the essentials at the Stade Auguste-Delaune and keeps its destiny in hand in the fight for qualifying places in C1.

- Regrets of Reims -

The Rémois may have regrets after their fine performance which was not rewarded, if only by the point of the draw that they would have deserved to obtain.

Now 13th with 42 points, the Champagne club should not succeed in achieving its goal of finishing in the top 10.

After a balanced start to the match, the first opportunity was the right one for the Monegasques: Matazo broke the lines of Reims, relied on his captain Wissam Ben Yedder and victoriously resumed the delivery of the international tricolor (0-1 , 20th).

Shortly after, the Belgian passed very close to the double but he missed his shot from a narrow angle after dribbling past goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic (25th).

Boulaye Dia sounded the revolt for Reims, but he first stumbled on the goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, who repelled his shot with the right foot (28th), before seeing a new attempt being countered in extremis by Benoit Badiashile (35th) .

The Monegasques believed they could take shelter before the break, but referee Antony Gautier canceled a penalty he had whistled after consulting the images of the VAR (45th).

Back from the locker room, Reims pushed to equalize, like a header from Wout Faes right next to it (57th) or a heavy strike from Mathieu Cafaro diverted by Lecomte (58th).

At the option of the replacements, the ASM ended up waking up and almost killed the suspense by Gelson Martins, whose deflected shot was repelled with difficulty by Rajkovic (76th).

The Portuguese midfielder was then narrowly preceded by Thomas Foket in the box (79th).

Monaco held on to achieve a success as timid as it was precious in their quest for the Champions League.

© 2021 AFP