Valenciennes have registered a narrow 1-0 win against Reims at home to climb up fifth in Ligue 1.
The home side went ahead as early as the sixth minute when Foued Kadir fired in Gaetan Bong's cross with his left foot from close range.
However, thereafter it was all Reims, who had Florent Ghisolfi test Nicolas Penneteau from a long-range effort in the ninth minute.
Midway through the first half Floyd Ayite made Penneteau pull out a good save, before Nicolas Fauvergue headed Aissa Mandi's cross just wide after the half-hour mark.
Reims continued to dominate proceedings in the second half, as Kamel Ghilas failed to keep his header from Florent Ghisolfi's cross on target.
Ghilas tried his luck with a shot midway through the second half, but once again could not keep his attempt on target.
When Ghilas finally managed to get his shot on target in the 71st minute, he was denied by Valenciennes goalkeeper Penneteau.
The 28-year-old could have won a point for Reims in the final minutes at Stade du Hainau when he was picked out by Mickael Tacalfred, but his header went high and wide.
Subhankar Mondal
