Ligue 1: Reims Stun Marseille with 3-1 Victory, Boosting Relegation Survival Hopes

Reims secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Marseille, boosting their relegation survival hopes and ending a 15-game winless streak. Get the latest Ligue 1 updates and results.

Marseille's Ligue 1 title aspirations suffered a significant setback as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Stade de Reims. The loss marks a devastating blow to Marseille's championship hopes, while Reims' impressive performance provided a crucial boost to their relegation battle.

Reims produced their most impressive display of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, capitalizing on Marseille's inability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. Despite being the away team, Marseille dominated the early stages of the match, with Mason Greenwood emerging as their most potent threat. The Englishman came close to scoring on multiple occasions, but his best chance sailed narrowly wide of Yehvann Diouf's right post.

Against the run of play, Reims seized the initiative through Keito Nakamura's stunning strike in the 29th minute. The Japanese international expertly set himself up inside the box and unleashed an unstoppable effort past Geronimo Rulli, catching the Marseille goalkeeper off guard. Despite trailing, Marseille continued to push forward, but their efforts were largely repelled by Reims' resilient defense.

Marseille's inability to create meaningful scoring opportunities ultimately proved costly, as Reims headed into the break with a surprise lead. Adrien Rabiot's header and a late penalty shout in stoppage time were the closest Marseille came to threatening Yehvann Diouf's goal, but it was too little, too late, as Reims secured a vital 3-1 victory.

Marseille adopted an aggressive approach at the start of the second half, pushing further up the pitch in pursuit of an equalizer. However, this tactic ultimately backfired, as Reims capitalized on the space left behind to launch a devastating counter-attack. The hosts' first chance of the half resulted in a second goal, with Keito Nakamura once again playing a pivotal role.

Huge Reims victory over Marseille! 🙌🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/o416KGBlQj

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 29, 2025

Nakamura's vision and precision proved decisive, as he delivered a perfect through ball to release Mamadou Diakhon, who calmly slotted the ball past Geronimo Rulli with ease. The 19-year-old's goal left Marseille reeling, and the visitors appeared stunned by the 2-0 deficit. Reims sensed their opponents' vulnerability and seized the initiative to further extend their lead.

The hosts' third goal arrived courtesy of another swift counter-attack, this time finished by Valentin Atangana Edoa. Marseille's defense was breached once more, leaving them with a daunting task to mount a comeback. Although Valentin Rongier managed to pull a goal back for Marseille late in the contest, it proved to be mere consolation, as Reims secured a convincing 3-1 victory.

The win marked a crucial turning point in Reims' battle against relegation, providing a much-needed boost to their survival chances. The victory also brought an end to Reims' 15-game winless streak, a testament to the team's determination and resilience. Conversely, Marseille's defeat represented a significant missed opportunity, as they failed to close the gap with league leaders PSG. The Parisians could potentially seal the title later in the day, depending on other results.