Teuma was suspended for Reims’ opening fixture against Lille OSC and then injured for the following match when the club travelled to the Stade Vélodrome to face Olympique de Marseille. 

However, Teuma’s absence from the lineup continued, with Elsner instead preferring a midfield trio of Marshall Munetsi (28), Valentin Atangana (19), and Yaya Fofana (20) over the club captain. 

Teuma has only started one game under Elsner (the 2-1 victory over FC Nantes) with his other appearances coming exclusively from the bench, such as over the weekend when he recorded his first goal of the season in the 4-2 defeat of Montpellier HSC. 

In his weekend comments, Elsner commented that “Little by little, things are getting back to normal. Teddy is making a big effort in training and is finding a level of fitness that matches his qualities,” the manager continued, “I am happy for him and it means a lot to me that he was able to convert that very important penalty that secured us the victory.” 

L’Équipe reports that the manager is attempting to handle the situation carefully as the two have not always seen eye-to-eye and he does not want to lose the midfielder. Teuma had previously worked under Elsner in Belgium when the Franco-Slovenian managed Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium from 2018 until 2019. 

The French paper alleges that a close friend of the Reims captain had told them, “There’s a dispute. There were disagreements at Saint-Gilloise. It has not been love at first sight between them because of that episode. There is a bit of an ego war.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

However, he also put Reims back on the football map in France, and even almost took them into Europe. After multiple seasons of mediocrity, Still took Reims out of the ventre mou and got them dreaming of Europe. Ultimately, he could not lead them to the promised land and his desire to make the next step in his career saw him depart the Stade Auguste Delaune before the conclusion of the last campaign, in which Reims finished ninth. 

Reims dismantle Montpellier

The appointment of Luka Elsner, although not without risks, looked shrewd. The Franco-Slovenian manager brought Le Havre AC into the top flight and then, on a shoestring budget, kept them there last season. Their survival bid was predicated on defensive solidity and Elsner built a cohesive unit. allowing HAC to finish the campaign with the ninth-best defence in the league. Given the Normand club’s financial constraints and the gap in quality to many rivals, even those staving off relegation, it was a considerable feat and one that rightly earned him a promotion to the hot seat at Reims.

However, the major question upon Elsner’s arrival was whether he could be more expansive at Reims. Still laid foundations and elevated expectations at the club and style, as well as substance, was needed. Thus far, Elsner has brought both, with the club currently sat in fourth in Ligue 1, level on points with supposed title contenders Olympique de Marseille.

Currently, Les Stadistes are conceding more goals per game than Le Havre did last season but already, they are looking like an exciting attacking outfit. Only Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique de Marseille and OGC Nice, helped by the 8-0 battering of AS Saint-Étienne, have scored more; with 14 goals in their first seven Ligue 1 matches, table-topping AS Monaco equal Reims’ record. 

“[We are] capable of creating a lot of chances,” recognised Elsner after Les Stadistes’ latest victory, a 4-2 triumph over a struggling Montpellier HSC. As Michel Der Zakarian admitted, it “could have been 6-2″. Reims are averaging less possession than they did under Still last season, but Elsner is happy to be more direct; it is a style that he adopted, through necessity, at Le Havre. With increased quality in the forward areas, it is a style that is reaping rewards. 

Elsner refuses to set objectives

That directness is suited to players such as Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura. The latter underwhelmed in his debut campaign in Ligue 1. With four goals in his first seven matches, he has already equalled his record from last season. Whilst Nakamura has rightfully earned plaudits for his start-of-season form, he is far from the only symbol of Reims’ excellent start. 

Marshall Munetsi has been excellent, as has the N’Golo Kanté-inspired Valentin Atangana, and Cédric Kipré, whose line-breaking passes are a handy asset. Elsner says that it isn’t his “philosophy” to set objectives, and unburdened by the expectations that the manager himself has been subjected to, they are thriving. 

It is early days but all the signs at Reims suggest that Still was not the be-all-and-end-all for the club, and his successor looks like a very capable custodian of a club that is trying, and for now succeeding, in breaking back into the elite in France. 

This week’s Ligue 1 subplots

• AS Monaco are now the outright leaders of Ligue 1 thanks to their deserved win away to Stade Rennais. It is now the Principality club’s best start to a league season since 1960/61. The outcome of that season? Les Monégasques were crowned champions.

• Paris Saint-Germain slipped up against OGC Nice, being held to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Riviera. Despite a difficult week, during which PSG lost to Arsenal, Luis Enrique nonetheless hailed a “promising” start to the season.

• Olympique de Marseille were thrown into the title conversation after a very bright start under Roberto De Zerbi, however, after a defeat to RC Strasbourg Alsace last weekend and a draw to rock-bottom SCO Angers on Friday, they are slipping out of that conversation. Already five points behind leaders Monaco, they already have a gap to make up.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Ahead of their match with Montpellier HSC, a statue of the late Reims striker will be unveiled outside Stade Auguste-Delaune at 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Fontaine’s widow, Arlette, along with his children and grandchildren, will be on hand for the special ceremony.

The ceremony comes nearly six years after another Reims legend was honoured with a statue of his own, Fontaine’s teammate for three seasons at Les rouges et blancs, the late Raymond Kopa.

Sculptor Juan Carlos Carrillo made the Fontaine statue with the assistance of Mathias Galichet.

Reims supporters will get a chance to see the 300kg bronze statue for the first time on Sunday afternoon.

It is said to be an echo of the ‘Smiling Angel’, a famous statue at the Cathedral of Reims.

During Fontaine’s tenure at Reims, the club won three Ligue 1 titles in four seasons from 1957-58 to 1961-61 and finished as European Cup (now the Champions League) runners-up in 1959-60, with the Moroccan-born French striker finishing as the top scorer in that competition (10 goals).

On two occasions, he was also the top goalscorer in the French top flight and won the 1958 World Cup Golden Boot with 13 goals, a record that still stands today.

In 2013, Fontaine was awarded the Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur), the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Fontaine passed away on March 1, 2023, in Toulouse at the age of 89.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

Names like Raymond Kopa, Just Fontaine, and Roger Piantoni were among the best attacking players in their position in the 1950s, and they all flourished with Les Rouges et Blancs in what were the glory years for the club.

In more recent times, players who have left Reims and gone on to bigger clubs include Edouard Mendy, who backstopped Chelsea to a Champions League title in 2021, and Hugo Ekitike, a Reims-born player, who is now thriving at Eintracht Frankfurt.

At the moment, the newest star in the department of Marne is a 19-year-old defensive midfielder, drawing comparisons to a Frenchman who, at one point, was considered the best player at his position, N’Golo Kanté.

Born in Cameroon but playing at the youth level for France, Valentin Atangana has become an elite ball-winner for Luka Elsner’s side.

From 2015-2022, Atangana honed his skills at the Reims academy and has played a big part in the senior side’s early Ligue 1 success this season, as they currently sit fifth in the table.

His coach, Elsner, recently told L’Équipe that Atangana is developing at an alarmingly fast rate.

“He is an extraordinary ball-winner who has a science of defensive placement, almost without making mistakes, which is very rare for his age,” said the Stadiste manager.

Not only does he possess an extraordinary technical ability, but Atangana’s leadership qualities at such a young age have been invaluable to this Reims side early on.

He’s also proven to be strong in the air despite not having a towering presence. Another veteran Frenchman, small in stature but an incredible ball recuperator, is N’Golo Kante, one of the players Atangana says he really looks up to.

“He really inspires me, both as a player and by his personality,” he says about the France international, currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.

Like the 33-year-old, Atangana has already won a trophy and individual accolades, helping the France Under-17 team win the 2022 UEFA European Championship.

Earlier this year, he was named to the Team of the Tournament for the Under-19 European Championship.

Atangana is under contract with Reims until 2026, but if he continues performing like he has this season, it won’t be long before the big European clubs come calling.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

Khadra came on in the 78th minute of Saturday night’s encounter against Paris Saint-Germain, as Stade de Reims secured a deserved point against the reigning Ligue 1 champions. However, the Germany youth international only lasted 10 minutes before being stretched off, visibly distraught. 

Midfielder Khadra joined Reims from Brighton and Hove Albion for just under €2m in the summer of 2023. In his debut season for Les Stadistes, he made 31 appearances in all competitions, including 14 starts in Ligue 1. He has played a part in four of Reims’ five Ligue 1 games this season, although every appearance was from the bench.

After coming off injured late on against PSG, Luka Elsner was pessimistic about the injury, stating that he feared his midfielder had ruptured his ACL. Those fears have now been realised with Reims confirming the ACL rupture in Khadra’s left knee. The club added that he will soon undergo an operation and he is expected to miss between six and eight months of competition.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Midfielder Khadra joined Reims from Brighton and Hove Albion for just under €2m in the summer of 2023. In his debut season for Les Stadistes, he made 31 appearances in all competitions, including 14 starts in Ligue 1. He has played a part in four of Reims’ five Ligue 1 games this season, although every appearance was from the bench.

He replaced Oumar Diakité in the Reims midfield on Saturday but was then replaced by Thibault De Smet 10 minutes later. Post-match, Reims manager Luka Elsner provided an update on his injured midfielder, and it wasn’t a good one. He stated that the club fear that Khadra has suffered a ruptured ACL, which could rule him out for several months, perhaps until the end of the season. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Paris Saint-Germain dropped points on the road as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Stade de Reims at the Stade Auguste Delaune. 

After a difficult Champions League fixture against Girona FC, PSG were hoping for a simpler task against Reims as they hoped to continue their winning start to the season. The hosts would be far from obliging racing to an early lead when Junya Ito rushed down the right wing and launched a cross into the box. 

Keito Nakamura met the ball and while his initial shot struggled to leave his foot, it travelled far enough to bounce off Marquinhos, and the Japan international was far more clinical with the rebound as his shot went past Matvei Safanov despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to the ball. 

PSG as expected controlled possession. The navy blue and red shirts swarmed and circulated around the pitch, fully embracing Luis Enrique’s fluid football. However, Reims were difficult to break down and quick in transitions, with Ito providing the engine for their attacking thrusts forward. 

Lee Kang-in came the closest to opening the scoring for Les Parisiens after Désiré Doué acting as a false nine in place of the injured Marco Asensio cut a cross towards the South Korean international. The midfielder’s shot flashed towards the goal but Yehvann Diouf was able to stop the ball. 

For the first time this season, PSG were behind as they entered the second half. The league leaders had come from behind the weekend before when they went 1-0 down to Lille OSC, and there was clearly belief that they would be able to do the same against Reims with Luis Enrique not making a change at halftime. 

Doué’s first start would come to an end early into the second half. The false nine collided with Emmanuel Agbadou, PSG appealed for a penalty but the referee was unmoved by their protests. The new signing, however, looked to be struggling and in the 65th minute, he was replaced by Ousmane Dembélé. 

It would take only a couple of minutes for Dembélé to make his mark on the game. The forward would latch onto the end of a fantastic deep cross from João Neves. The ball whipped through the box and almost went out of play but Dembélé managed to keep the play alive with a tight-angled shot that slipped past Diouf. 

PSG pushed for the winner but it would never come and Reims were left wondering how they didn’t get the 3 points after a last-minute miss from Nhoa Sangui. The league leaders never left first gear this evening. They will likely end the week in first due to their impressive goal difference, but Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco will be licking their lips over the chance to draw level at the top.

PSG Player Ratings

Matvei Safanov, 5

Lucas Beraldo, 5 – Replaced in the 83rd minute by Nuno Mendes. 

Willian Pacho, 5

Marquinhos, 4

Warren Zaïre-Emery, 5

Vitinha, 5 – Replaced by Fabián Ruiz in the 70th minute. 

João Neves, 7 – The game changer. Five assists in his first five games for PSG (albeit the first four came in the opening two games). The midfielder rescued the game with a brilliant cross that connected with Dembélé and allowed for PSG to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. 

Lee Kang-in, 6 – Replaced in the 83rd minute by Senny Mayulu. A bright game for the South Korean international. He will be disappointed not to have scored in the first half after he was on the receiving end of two good opportunities. Lee also managed to set Barcola up but the winger’s header floated over the crossbar. 

Bradley Barcola, 4 – A really disappointing evening for the winger. He struggled to make his mark on the game. 

Désiré Doué, 5 – Replaced five minutes after the hour mark by Dembélé. The new signing looked to grow into the game as the first half wore on. However, he struggled to make an impact and ultimately limped off the pitch after he collided with Emmanuel Agbadou in the 55th minute.  

Randal Kolo Muani, 6 – Starting inplace of Dembélé. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Luis Enrique will likely make sweeping changes to the team that recorded a 1-0 victory over FC Girona midweek in the Champions League, with a first start being provided to summer signing Désiré Doué who has so far been limited to involvements off the bench for his new club

The injury to Marco Asensio likewise allows Randal Kolo Muani to also make his first start to the season. Lucas Beraldo starts in place of left-back Nuno Mendes who is being rested for this game, while on the other flank, Achraf Hakimi will not make the journey allowing the young Yoram Zague to take his place. 

The final swap from the Girona game sees Vitinha dropped to the bench after his return from injury in his place Lee Kang-in will be given a start. The South Korean international has impressed this season during his somewhat limited minutes. 

PSG likely lineup vs Reims

Matvei Safonov; Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos, Yoram Zague; João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Lee Kang-in, Désiré Doué, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmané Dembélé. (L’Éq) 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The tie was far from simple, with Luis Enrique admiring how the Catalan opposition had forced his side to suffer throughout the evening. However, Five victories out of five across all competitions would be secured for PSG courtesy of a late own goal via Paulo Gazzaniga (32). 

While the game against Girona was far from PSG’s most convincing performance this season, the club have looked on fire during their domestic travails. Les Parisiens top the league and have recorded 16 goals across their first four games. 

Starting roles have become exceptionally hard to come by with summer signing Désiré Doué (19) yet to start in any of his games for the capital club. Luis Enrique has admitted in his press conference ahead of the visit to Stade de Reims, that the situation for a lot of players is “unfair.” 

Luis Enrique – ‘I would like to be unfair to many of them’ 

“I work well with all the players. But my job is to be unfair. I repeat, it’s to be unfair. Against Girona, 16 players deserved to be starters but only 11 can play,” the former Spanish national team manager explained. “I will be unfair throughout the season. I would like to be unfair to many of them. That means that they’re all ready and good. I signed up for this, whether it’s ugly or beautiful, it’s the job of the PSG coach.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Bojang joined Reims last summer from Steve Biko FC, amid interest from some top clubs from across Europe, signing a five-year deal that runs until 2028. However, having made the move to France, he found game time limited, making just nine substitute appearances for Les Stadistes in Ligue 1. He has, however, shown great promise for Reims’ reserve side, scoring eight goals in eight games in the National 3, France’s fifth tier. 

However, the Gambia international is now in need of consistent game time at a higher level and the decision was therefore taken to send him out on loan for the current campaign. Reims confirmed on Saturday that Bojang has joined Swiss Super League side Grasshopper Club Zurich. With Reims still considering the striker as one for the future, no purchase option has been included in the deal. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle