Gueida Fofana's second-half strike and Alexandre Lacazette's 10th goal of the season were enough to give Lyon a victory at Reims, which helps them climb the Ligue 1 table.
© AFP
The former champions, who started the game five places behind their opponents in the standings in 10th, made much of the early running and had a number of chances to edge in front.
Yoann Gourcuff squandered a good opportunity early on when Clement Grenier played in the France international, only to see his subsequent shot saved.
Lyon took the lead on 25 minutes when top scorer Lacazette received the ball on the edge of the area from Henri Bedimo and, after taking a touch to control, unleashed a low shot that found the bottom right corner of Kossi Agassa's net.
Reims struggled to create clear chances in response, but ought to have equalised on 38 minutes when the ball fell to Nicolas de Preville inside the area, but his shot was hit wildly over the bar.
However, the hosts almost got back on terms two minutes before the interval when Anthony Weber's header hit the underside of the crossbar. The bravery of goalkeeper Anthony Lopes stopped the rebound being turned goalwards.
Lyon wasted no time in breaking out of the defence and tried to increase their lead, but Bafetimbi Gomis couldn't keep his side-footed shot on target.
After the interval, Remi Garde's men continued their search for a second goal and almost found one in unusual circumstances when Gourcuff's free kick from out wide almost caught out Agassa, before the Reims shot-shopper nervously retreated and tipped the ball over his own bar.
The visitors controlled possession and limited the danger posed by Reims in attack, but were still in search of a winning goal with Grenier latching on to a Gourcuff corner, but failing to test the Reims keeper.
Lyon finally made sure of victory with six minutes remaining when Fofana's fizzing strike from the edge of the box left Agassa well beaten.
The result sees Lyon climb to eighth in Ligue 1.
Chris O'Keefe
