Olympique Lyonnais were seconds away from their first defeat in five, but Tino Kadewere struck late to cancel out Mathieu Cafaro's opener for Stade de Reims and it ended 1-1 at the Stade August-Delaune.
Stade de Reims 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
THE MATCH
Lyon travelled to French Champagne country knowing that victory could take them top of the table - at least until LOSC and Paris Saint-Germain played their games on Sunday - and they started with an aggressive front three of Memphis Depay, Karl Toko Ekambi and Rayan Cherki. Reims's extra body in midfield served them well, though, and the hosts did a good job of quelling OL's attacking intent. They even carved out the first real chance of the game, with Boulaye Dia forcing Anthony Lopes into a good save at his near post (21'). Memphis' booking for simulation (30') was testament to Lyon's difficult first half, and Reims turned insult into injury for their visitors minutes later when Cafaro volleyed home Thomas Foket's cross into the box for the opener (33'). Lucas Paqueta might have restored parity before the end of the half, but his finish didn't match the skill that had preceded it (42') and it was 1-0 at the break.
Lyon come good
Rudi Garcia rang the changes for Lyon at the interval, bringing Maxence Caqueret, Kadewere and Maxwel Cornet on for Houssem Aouar, Cherki and Mattia De Sciglio (46'), and no doubt sending his charges back out with his words still ringing in their ears. Paqueta (49') and Kadewere (50') both had chances soon after, but Lopes's opposite number Predrag Rajkovic proved equal to them. Reims should have put the game to bed just inside the hour when Nathanaël Mbuku followed up on Marshall Munetsi's parried shot, but he blazed the rebound over the bar with the goal at his mercy (58'). Cafaro later pulled up with cramp and Reims coach David Guion took the opportunity to bring defender Fodé Doucouré on for the winger (74'). The move invited trouble, though, and after Rajkovic pulled of the save of the game to stop Cornet's bottom corner-bound shot (82'), Kadewere headed home at close range (90'+2') to snatch a share of the spoils.
THE PLAYER: Mathieu Cafaro
Cafaro was busy on Friday, and there was an air of the inevitable both that it was he who broke the deadlock and that Reims's game unravelled after he came off. The former Toulouse FC man has had to share playing time with Mbuku and Arbër Zeneli in Reims's wide positions this season, but preferred to the latter here, he seized his chance with his fourth goal of the season. Guion can only hope his injury is minor.
THE STAT: 92
Lyon remain undefeated in 24 of their last 26 Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches - 92 percent. They had to dig deep for a share of the points here, and they may have missed the chance to pull provisionally to the top of the table, bit picking up ugly points is what will make them a contender for the title right up until the end of this season.
