A brace from Lucas Barrios helped to ensure that Montpellier HSC kept alive their faint hopes of achieving European football next season with a 3-0 victory over Reims in Ligue 1.
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Montpellier took the lead after only four minutes when Kevin Berigaud shifted the ball to Barrios, with the striker thundering in an effort from distance past Kossi Agassa.
Morgan Sanson should have doubled the hosts' lead on 22 minutes, but he blazed just over the crossbar from the centre of the Reims box.
Montpellier continued to push for a second goal before the break as Daniel Congre had a header kept out of the top-right corner following a full-stretch save from Agassa.
Reims might have found a route back into the game when Aissa Mandi reacted quickly inside the box, only to be thwarted by a good reaction save from Montpellier stopper Geoffrey Jourdren.
The away side were wasteful again straight after the break as Gaetan Charbonnier headed straight at the Montpellier keeper from Diego's enterprising cross.
Montpellier eventually made them pay with just under 15 minutes to go, with Barrios returning to pick up his second of the night with an confident finish beyond an unlucky Agassa.
Reims ensured a nervy finish as Prince Oniangue gave them a lifeline in the 89th minute, but the home side soon added another through Sanson to secure the victory.
Christopher Dodd
