The struggle continues for Stade de Reims as they faced yet another defeat, this time at home against Auxerre, who won 2-0 on Sunday, March 9, 2025. This result highlights Reims' alarming slide down the Ligue 1 standings, marking their 14th match without victory and their fifth consecutive defeat overall. Meanwhile, Auxerre celebrated their second away win of the season, pushing themselves closer to safety.
The match began with Auxerre seizing control early on. Theo Bair found the net first with his header, expertly assisted by Gaëtan Perrin, putting his team up 1-0 just 15 minutes in. Only nine minutes later, Hamed Junor Traorè doubled the lead for Auxerre with his close-range finish, showing the visitors' potency to capitalize on opportunities.
On the other hand, Reims' return to form seemed increasingly evasive. Despite showing some intensity, they could not find the back of the net and were plagued with frustration. Players like Mamadou Diakhon came close but struck the right post late in the match, highlighting Reims' struggle to convert chances. The fans too, voiced their dissatisfaction, booing the players as they left the pitch and unfurling banners calling for accountability from the club's management. This indicates rising tensions between the supporters and the board over the disappointing results.
After the match, Reims stood precariously at 15th place, barely above the relegation zone, just one point away from the brink with Le Havre at their heels. The alarming drop is particularly pointed against the difficult schedule Reims faces: they will host the second-place Olympique de Marseille next, followed by matches against strong teams Strasbourg and Lens. Football pundits are questioning how Reims can turn things around, especially considering they have only scored six goals altogether this year, the lowest total alongside Montpellier.
Auxerre, now sitting comfortably at 12th with eight points separating them from the drop, have shown resilience after their previous shaky performances, which included drawing 2-2 against Toulouse. Yet, this victory against Reims also marked the arrival of positivity as they seek to solidify their position away from relegation concerns.
The scoreboard might have favored Auxerre, but it was their defensive game plan, along with timely counterattacks, which effectively muted Reims' forwards. Despite Reims launching multiple attacks, many resulted only in blocked attempts, with players such as Keito Nakamura and Hafiz Ibrahim finding it hard to break through Auxerre's well-organized defense. Reims' coach Samba Diawara faces mounting pressure, having only been appointed after the dismissal of his predecessor, Elsner, earlier this year.
Now, with their next match looming, there’s no room for complacency for either team. Auxerre will need to capitalize on their winning momentum to strengthen their position, as they prepare to take on Nice next, followed by Montpellier. Reims, on the other hand, urgently needs to find their flow to regain form if they want to stave off the relegation threat lurking dangerously close.
The continued discontent from the Reims supporters is symptomatic of their club's plight. Beyond the immediate results, there's concern about team morale and whether the players can rebound to offer more than their poor performances so far this season. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if the leadership can effectively navigate this crisis, leading to tangible improvements on the pitch before it's too late.