Emir Lenjani scored 14 minutes from time as Nantes moved into the top four with a victory over Reims.
The result also means that Reims, who narrowly avoided relegation last season, have lost their unbeaten record since the start of this campaign.
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Les Canaris showed their intent early on when Kolbeinn Sigthorsson fired over from Valentin Rongier's cross.
Soon afterwards, Sigthorsson went closer to a breakthrough as his header from a pin-point Johan Audel ball into the area was stopped by Kossi Agassa.
Agassa was again involved when he kept out Adrien Thomasson's effort before the Reims keeper was forced off injured.
With no keeper on the bench, midfielder Johny Placide donned the gloves, but one of his first moves was to the pick the ball out of the net when Lenjani found the bottom-right corner.
Reims only shot on target came two minutes from time when Nicolas de Preville was denied by Remy Riou as Nantes held on.
Chris O'Keefe
