Half a season. This is what the incredible series of invincibility that Stade de Reims is going through in Ligue 1 now represents. 19 games without defeat, including 9 wins and 10 draws. Latest success to date: a prestigious victory in Monaco this Sunday, on the lowest score (0-1).
Thanks to his 16th goal of the season in the league, it was Folarin Balogun, on loan from Arsenal, who offered victory to his team at the start of the second half (51st).
“It’s a feeling of pride and necessarily pleasure,” said Will Still at the microphone of Canal +. I am proud to be the coach of these guys, of this team. »
But the meeting could have taken a completely different turn. Twice, the Monegasques came very close to opening the scoring. First when a ball stung by Wissam Ben Yedder came to rest on the right post of Yevhann Diouf half an hour into the game. Then when the left post prevented Vanderson from finding the back of the net with a low shot, just a few seconds before the opening of the Reims score.
With this victory, Stade de Reims continues its rise in the standings, which began with the arrival of its young coach Will Still, 30, in October 2022. Les Champenois return to level with Nice, 7th, and 4 points behind Rennes, 5th.
The success of the Belgian coach is almost unique in Europe. With 17 games without defeat in Ligue 1, he becomes only the second coach to achieve such a series when he arrives on the bench in the 5 major championships, in the 21st century. Only Tito Vilanova got there before him, remaining undefeated in 18 consecutive games with FC Barcelona in 2012-2013.
On the Monegasque side, the defeat of the day confirms a real setback. Since its cruel elimination on penalties against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League, the club from the principality has not won any of its last three matches (2 losses, 1 draw). Monaco even slips to 4th place after this 27th day. It is RC Lens, winner in Clermont thanks to a historic hat-trick from Loïs Openda, which takes its place on the podium.
