Marseille edge Reims as Rennes regain third in Champions League race

Marseille beat Reims 1-0 away in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with Gerson scoring a late winner, while Rennes bounced back from back-to-back losses to direct rivals for a Champions League position by thumping Lorient to retake the third place.

Gerson, a Brazilian international, came off the bench to score the game’s sole goal seven minutes from time, keeping Jorge Sampaoli’s side six points clear of the second-placed group.

They are still in contention for France’s other automatic qualifying position for next season’s Champions League, but three of their remaining four games are against Lyon, Rennes, and Strasbourg.

Next Monday, OM will play Feyenoord in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final.

“It was a tough match against an opponent who defended very well, but I think it was a deserved win,” said Sampaoli.

“It’s good to keep the gap with those chasing us because we have a difficult fixture list and those behind us also won so that put pressure on us to do the same.”

Rennes bounced back from losses to Monaco and Strasbourg to beat Lorient 5-0 at Roazhon Park.

Shortly after Benjamin Bourigeaud had given Rennes the lead at Roazhon Park, Martin Terrier scored his 21st goal of the season. Terrier is currently only one goal behind league leader Kylian Mbappe.

After Rennes defender Nayif Aguerd was sent off, captain Hamari Traore scored a third goal early in the second half, with Flavien Tait and Gaetan Laborde also on target.

“Scoring twice in the first 20 minutes gave us confidence,” said Rennes coach Bruno Genesio.