In the opening 10 matches of the season, Lorient had enjoyed their best-ever start to a top-flight season while Reims had endured their worst since 1978/79. Les Rouges et Blancs had just become the first team to keep out Paris Saint-Germain, but doing the same to Lorient seemed a tough task with the hosts bursting forward at every opportunity in the early stages. Vincent Le Goff’s cross seemed destined to set up the opener as it flashed across the box, although Terem Moffi’s flick didn’t come off and Dango Ouattara’s shot was saved by Yehvann Diouf.
There was a blow for Les Merlus in the 24th minute, as top-scorer Moffi was forced off after struggling with an ankle injury for some time. Things could have got even worse for Regis Le Bris’ side when Andreaw Gravillon found Marshall Munetsi in the box, but the midfielder missed the target. Munetsi was also forced off before half-time, although Reims successfully cleared after Enzo Le Fee’s free-kick delivery had caused havoc in their box during the final exchange before the break.
Having been booked in first-half added time for barging Ouattara, Dion Lopy was handed a second booking within a minute of the restart for bringing down the same man - Lopy now faces his third suspension of the campaign. Incredibly, this was the fourth consecutive away match in which Reims have had somebody sent off, while both teams have finished with 11 players in just two of their games this term. Even so, Folarin Balogun unleashed a curling effort that sailed agonisingly wide.
Arber Zeneli actually came closest to a late winner with a strike that Yvon Mvogo palmed away well, as Lorient’s run of six consecutive wins came to an underwhelming end as they missed the opportunity to temporarily go top ahead of Le Classique on Sunday. Meanwhile, Reims recorded their third consecutive draw, while Emmanuel Agbadou’s rash challenge on Ouattara in the final moments meant they had two players sent off in one match for the first time this season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Andreaw Gravillon (Stade de Reims)
