French Ligue 1 report: Straightforward for Monaco

Monaco continued their bid for Champions League qualification with a 3-1 win at struggling Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Goals from Fabinho and Anthony Martial put the visitors in command early on, but Diego pulled one back with 20 minutes to go.

But Nabil Dirar restored fourth-placed Monaco's two-goal lead nine minutes later as they made it three league wins in a row to remain firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish.

Monaco made a blistering start and found themselves 2-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes.

After five minutes Joao Moutinho picked out the unmarked Fabinho on the right and the Brazilian right-back sent a blistering effort beyond Kossi Agassa.

Nine minutes later Moutinho provided again, sending Martial through on goal and the young winger clinically lifted the ball over Agassa to double the lead.

Monaco did not have things all their own way, though, as Prince Oniangue, David N'Gog and Aissa Mandi all wasted decent opportunities to reduce the deficit.

However, the visitors could easily have added a third in added time at the end of the first half when Reims switched off to allow Martial through on goal, but his effort was weak and slipped wide of the left post.

Monaco came flying out of the traps again for the second half and Layvin Kurzawa forced Agassa to tip over a stinging strike before the busy Martial shot just wide of the target after bamboozling the Reims defence.

However, it was the hosts who struck next as Nicolas de Preville released Diego on the left and, with no real options, the Brazilian dispatched a stunning left-footed effort across Danijel Subasic and into the far corner.

But Reims' hopes were dashed when substitute Dirar met Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's free-kick to head beyond the diving Agassa and seal the three points for Monaco.