Gauthier Hein’s stunning goal in extra time propelled Metz to a 3-1 victory over Reims on Thursday, securing their return to Ligue 1. This win was a redemption for Metz, who had been relegated after losing to Saint-Etienne in extra time at the end of the 2023-24 season.
The second-tier team reversed their fortunes by overcoming a deficit to win 4-2 on aggregate, sending Reims down to Ligue 2.
Reims had recently played in the Coupe de France final but were unable to replicate that form against Metz. Despite controlling much of the match, Reims only managed a breakthrough when Ange Tia scored his first professional goal after Junya Ito set him up. However, Mamadou Diakhon missed a crucial chance to secure victory, allowing Metz captain Matthieu Udol to equalise with a deflected shot.
This goal forced extra time, where Hein’s backheel assist enabled Alpha Toure to score into the bottom-right corner. As Reims pushed for an equaliser, goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was caught off guard by Hein’s lob from near midfield, sealing Metz’s promotion. “Helped Auxerre promote to Ligue 1 last season Came back to his child club to bring them back to top flight football Gauthier Hein, Metzs promotion hero,” tweeted Ligue 1 English.
The play-off trend continued as lower-league teams remained unbeaten in seven matches against top-tier sides. This includes both legs of this tie and Saint-Etienne’s success in 2024. For Reims, this defeat marked their worst home campaign ever, with ten losses across all competitions. Their week ended poorly after missing out on silverware against PSG and confirming relegation.
Reims’ downfall was partly due to their inability to capitalise on opportunities during regular time. They attempted only two shots with a combined expected goals value of just 0.1. This inefficiency allowed Metz to push the game into extra time and ultimately secure their return to Ligue 1.
Metz’s victory not only highlighted their resilience but also underscored the challenges faced by Reims throughout the season. With this win, Metz celebrated an immediate comeback while Reims faced the reality of playing in Ligue 2 next season.