Home captain Max-Alain Gradel rescued a point for Toulouse with an 82nd-minute equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Reims.
Toulouse FC 1-1 Stade de Reims 
THE MATCH
Reims thought they were going to avenge falling at Toulouse on penalties in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France, only for Gradel to end those hopes. Despite the Gradel goal, Toulouse are still without a home league win since August 25, managing only six points from ten games in front of their supporters in that time.
After a disappointing first half, Reims took the lead (55′) when former Toulouse midfielder Mathieu Cafaro’s cross was met by Rémi Oudin, who side-footed home his fifth goal of the season.
Only a wonderful Christopher Jullien tackle on Xavier Chevalerin prevented a second Reims goal (69′) as the visiting midfielder had rounded home goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet.
Toulouse saved a point with their first shot on target (81′). Manu Garcia’s superb pass picked out Gradel and the Ivorian international shrugged off the attentions of Yunis Abdelhamid before beating Edouard Mendy. Reims are unbeaten in eight games since falling at home to Toulouse in early December.
THE PLAYER: Max-Alain Gradel
Alain Casanova has been trying to make Toulouse less dependent on Gradel. Without Gradel’s nine league goals, Les Violets would be in an even worse position than being eight points above 18th-placed Monaco in lower mid-table. The 31-year-old’s team-mates need to start offering him better back-up.
THE STAT: 5
Toulouse are unbeaten in their five home Ligue 1 Conforama games against Reims (2W, 3D).
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