Nakamura & Diakhon fire Reims to clinical victory over Marseille (3-1)

Olympique de Marseille returned to action following the international break and were looking to get back to winning ways against Stade de Reims after a 3-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes. With the race for Europe tightening following Strasbourg’s win over Lyon (4-2) over Lyon on Friday evening, it was imperative for Roberto De Zerbi’s men to go into the final quarter of the season with a win under their belts. In fact, with Marseille’s six competitors for the European spots in action this weekend, it would be the perfect opportunity to find some breathing room in the search for Champions League football. But Reims would rip up that script on Saturday afternoon…

Roberto De Zerbi’s men started the game incredibly high up the pitch, as Reims dropped into a low block of two rigid defensive lines. Dominating early possession, Amine Gouiri got the first half-chance after Adrien Rabiot’s cushioned header to set him up, but the Algerian’s strike was blocked by a combination of Okumu and Kipré. After weathering the initial storm which saw OM hold 86% of possession, Reims managed to break out of their defensive dugout and start to move up the pitch with Nakamura and Ito’s driving runs.

Finally, a goal for Reims! 

Six games and over 11 hours of football without a goal, Reims would manage to break the curse and get ahead right at the point they were under most pressure. A long sweeping ball found Diakhon on the right side, who managed to find Keito Nakamura. The Japan international found some space and shifted to the right before firing home past Rulli to put the Champagne region side ahead.

Adrien Rabiot’s header was denied on the line only minutes later from Amine Gouiri’s corner, as Akieme’s header stopped what looked like a certain goal to get Les Phocéens back into the game. Half-time came and De Zerbi ran the changes as Pol Lirola and Quentin Merlin came off for Ismaël Bennacer and Amar Dedic to make their entry in the second period.

From bad to worse for Marseille

Yet it was substitute Amar Dedic who was at fault for losing the ball to Nakaruma, and the Japan international simply played Diakhon in behind who provided the finish past a helpless Geronimo Rulli to double Reims’ lead. And it wouldn’t stop there, Reims would hit on the counter attack once more and this time it was Valentin Atangana who skipped past the OM defence and chipped the ball past Rulli.

Valentin Rongier managed to get on the scoresheet with a superb strike from the middle of the box but it would be too little too late for Les Olympiens, who fell to a third straight defeat and have dented their hope of Champions League football next season.

MATCH REACTION

Valentin Atangana (Reims): “We knew we had to close off the inside passing lanes. It does us a lot of good against a big team like Marseille, and we deserved it today. Well done to the whole team, we held it together defensively and we should celebrate it tonight.”

Adrien Rabiot (Marseille): “It’s bad for us but it was also bad to show this spirit here. We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare but it wasn’t enough for what we showed today. We haven’t shown the spirit or played in the way we want to for the Champions League. In duels we weren’t present. They had two weapons and that was set-pieces and counter attacks. We can’t defend like that. We need to have another mentality if we want to reach the Champions League, we need to have desire. It’s not a question of playing in a low block or not, it’s well above that.”

THE STAT: Back on track 

Stade de Reims have won their first Ligue 1 McDonald's match since 10th November 2024 against Le Havre, putting an end to 15 consecutive games without victory.

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>>Season Preview #14: Stade de Reims