The match between AS Saint-Etienne and Reims, originally scheduled for 3 p.m. due to weather conditions, saw the Stéphanois emerge victorious with a 4-0 scoreline.
Despite their dominance, AS Saint-Etienne faced challenges converting opportunities in the first half against a reserved Reims team. Lemoine had a chance to open the scoring with a curling shot, but the timid Reims side, led by Kossi Agassa, thwarted their efforts, including a missed target by Fortes. The first half concluded without any goals.
Upon returning from the locker room, Christophe Galtier’s team took a deserved lead. Senegalese player Bayal Sall capitalized on a corner from Hamouma with a diving header, beating Togolese goalkeeper Kossi Agassa (1-0, 62nd minute).
The second goal for the Greens came from a set piece, as Perrin doubled the lead with an unstoppable header following a free kick from Mollo (2-0, 72nd minute). Saint-Etienne’s captain, Perrin, completed his brace by converting a rebound from Bayal Sall’s header, initially repelled by Agassa (3-0, 78th minute).
Towards the end of the match, Erding capitalized on a poor recovery from Reims’ goal to further increase the score. AS Saint-Etienne demonstrated their return to form in Ligue 1 after facing challenges in the past two months.
Reims’ lineup: Agassa – Glombard, Tacalfred (captain), Weber, Signorino – Devaux, Krychowiak, Oniangué – Fortes, De Préville, F.Ayité
Saint-Etienne’s lineup: Ruffier – Clerc, Bayal, Perrin (captain), Ghoulam – Lemoine, Clément – Hamouma, Cohade, Tabanou – Brandao
