Stade Reims 1 - 0 Stade Rennais FC : Reims avoid drop with win

Reims secured their place in Ligue 1 for next season with a 1-0 victory over Rennes.

Gaetan Charbonnier was the matchwinner with his 59th minute penalty enough to claim the three points and send them up to 14th in the table. With one game to play Olivier Guegan's side are seven points off the relegation zone.

Coming into the game Reims had lost their last three home matches but a 3-2 win at relegation rivals Evian last week gave them real hope of staying up.

The home side started the stronger and after 20 minutes Franck Signorino freed Diego on the left wing who crossed towards Prince Oniangue whose header went inches over the bar.

Rennes went close after 33 minutes when Abdoulaye Doucoure's diving header went just wide and moments before the break Ola Toivonen found Benjamin Andre who again failed to hit the target.

Rennes were in the ascendency after the restart and after 57 minutes Paul-Georges Ntep found Doucoure whose dribbled into the area before seeing his shot blocked by Kossi Agassa.

That stop would prove to be vital as just before the hour mark the home side hit the front.

Mexer was adjudged to have handled in the area and from 12 yards Charbonnier shot low to the keeper's left and into the corner of the net

Rennes fought back and after 76 minutes Ntep released Kamil Grosicki at the top of the box, but his first-time shot was blocked by Agassa.

Reims could have doubled their lead 10 minutes from time after Charbonnier freed Oniangue near the penalty area, he dribbled past a defender and his right-footed effort thundered onto the post.