Reims have held on for a 2-1 victory at home to Lille in their second match of the Ligue 1 campaign.
After defeat at Rennes on the opening day of the season, Hubert Fournier's men needed a big performance against Les Dogues, and that is just what the fans got.
Danish midfielder Mads Albaek got the hosts off to the best possible start in the seventh minute, dropping to the edge of the box and hitting a first-time shot beyond Vincent Enyeama.
It was made 2-0 in the 67th minute, when good work from Gaetan Courtet helped set up Christopher Glombard to blast home emphatically.
Lille began to see more of the ball after falling two behind but their only reward was a Marko Basa goal in the 88th minute.
That had set up a nervy finish for the home fans, who will have got tensed when they saw David Rozehnal rise to meet a late corner. However, the Czech defender saw his effort drift just past the far post.
Michael Penkman
