Reims and Marseille drew 1-1 on Friday night in a result that did neither side’s European qualification aspirations any good.
Antoine Devaux gave the hosts the lead midway through the second period when he headed home a cross from full-back Franck Signorino.
But the 1993 European champions earnt a deserved equaliser 10 minutes from time when France forward Andre-Pierre Gignac tapped home at the back post after Reims goalkeeper Kossi Agassa missed a cross from Rod Fanni.
“It’s no doubt the lack of clinical finishing that cost us victory,” said Marseille coach Jose Anigo.
“It was a greta fight at Reims. We knew it wouldn’t be easy against this team who, added to everything, play free-flowing football.
“Reims play well, they’re a great team.”
The result left Marseille eight points off Lille in the final Champions League qualification berth having played a game more, with Reims one point further back.
Marseille are also four points off Saint-Etienne in the Europa League qualifying spot, but again Les Verts have played a game less.
At they ended their two-game losing streak having been defeated by their two fiercest rivals, Paris Saint-Germain and Nice, in their previous two games.
“At Marseille you’re expected to excel. But when we’ve lost two matches, like we’ve just done against PSG and Nice, there’s huge pressure,” said Anigo.
“That’s why tonight I’m half satisfied.”
Marseille had the best two chances of the first half but Agassa saved well from Gignac and Benoit Cheyrou.
The visitors again came close after the restart when Fanni fired just over the bar from a Mathieu Valbuena corner.
That Reims took the lead was something of a surprise but Gignac’s equaliser was the least Marseille deserved.
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