They were threatened to fall back to an anonymous 8th place, but Bruno Genesio's men have provisionally climbed back to 5th place, the last qualifier for a European competition, with 53 points and a short lead over Lille, who host Montpellier on Sunday.

Reims, who had the opportunity to go up to mingle with the dance, remain for their part in this 8th place (47 points), victim of an unusually brittle defense and a well-muzzled attack.

"Three months that we are patient, three months that it is nothing, move now," had warned the Rennes Ultras on a large banner during the warm-up of the players. "Victory mandatory to keep hope alive!" read another banner before kick-off.

Much too irregular since the post-World Cup recovery, doubled by Lille and caught by Lyon, Rennes, authors of a performance deemed "lamentable" by their president at Parc OL (3-1), did not have the right to make mistakes against their bête noire (six defeats, two draws and only one victory since 2018).

Tense at the beginning of the match, they were able to quickly take advantage of the absence of the two Reims midfielders Jens Cajuste and Azor Matusiwa, suspended, to offer themselves two golden opportunities, precisely from the midfield.

Starting for only the fifth time this season in L1 due to a litany of injuries, Doku first grabbed a loose ball by Alexis Flips to go alone to the surface and conclude with a low strike (1-0, 9th).

Then it was Birger Meling who left alone in the axis following a one-two with Arnaud Kalimuendo. Once in the box, he shifted Doku, who had followed on the right for his first double in the Rennes jersey (2-0, 19th).

Requinquinqués, Rennes inflicted a diligent pressing to the Reims (23 shots against four over the whole match), saved by their post when Lesley Ugochukwu arrived launched to recover from a heel and try to push a lost ball into the box (32nd).

And it was again the post that interposed on a direct free kick from Benjamin Bourigeaud (67th).

Meanwhile, the Reims tried to raise their heads but Steve Mandanda released a boss parade against Marshall Munetsi (41st) and the insatiable Folarin Balogun, 4th top scorer in the championship with 18 goals, missed the frame on one of his rare opportunities (60th).

And Rennes took off on a corner badly pushed away by Yehvann Diouf: Amine Gouiri recovered the ball and put back for Theate, who lobbed the Reims goalkeeper (3-0, 68th). It was the day of the Belgian internationals at Roazhon Park...

© 2023 AFP