Monaco earn narrow win versus Reims with Bernardo Silva winner

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:10 am
Bernardo Silva gave Monaco all they needed in a 1-0 win against Reims.
FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP/Getty Images

Monaco secured their first Ligue 1 victory in four as Bernardo Silva netted in the slender 1-0 defeat of Reims.

The Portuguese's fourth goal of the season was enough to secure a much-needed three points for the principality side as the hosts were consigned to a third successive league defeat.

Leonardo Jardim's side made a positive start and only had to wait 11 minutes to make the breakthrough, when Silva headed Nabil Dirar's cross beyond Johnny Placide from close range.

Guido Carrillo was millimetres away from doubling the visitors' lead just after the half hour mark but, with Placide beaten, his header came back off the upright.

That same combination denied the unlucky Carrillo again just before the interval, when his deflected effort from just inside the area found the base of the right post.

Any hopes of a Reims comeback appeared to diminish when Antoine Devaux was shown his second yellow of the game on 69 minutes and, although Gaetan Charbonnier did test Danijel Subasic moments later, it was Monaco who finished the stronger.

Firstly, Placide made a smart stop to deny Dirar from a tight angle before Mario Pasalic's header from Silva's delivery ended up just the wrong side of the top corner.