Stade Rennais extended their impressive unbeaten run after defeating AS Monaco by two goals to nil at the Route de Lorient. An own goal from Aymen Abdennour and an Ola Toivonen strike was enough to see out the game in comfortable fashion.
AS Monaco came into the game off of a one nil victory away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, whilst Rennes were having their best stretch of matches under Philippe Montanier.
Both teams started the game brightly with the home side having more of the possession in the opening stages. There was little in the way of a costless flowing game at times, with João Moutinho being down injured for a fair portion of time. The attacking midfielder went over on his ankle, but managed to continue after receiving treatment.
Rennes got their opener within the first ten minutes after Paul-Georges Ntep managed to burst past the Monaco defence, leaving them trailing behind. Ntep looked up and tried to pick out Toivonen who was waiting in the middle, however the cross parried off Abdennour and past the goalkeeper and put the home side ahead.
Rennes looked keen to build on their lead, but had trouble retaining the ball for much of the match at the time with both teams equal in possession. Monaco were restricted to half-chances, the best being an unsuccessful cross from Elderson Echiéjilé, the former Rennes player was unable to do enough to frighten his old team.
Rennes did increase their lead and once again it was Ntep leading the charge for the home side. In similar fashion to the first goal, Ntep got ahead of his opponent before picking out Toivonen who peeled off his man to notch home. Rennes were in dream land, as they found it so easy against what once would have been formidable opponents.
After an unsuccessful Rennes press on Monaco, the away side got themselves sorted and tried to regain a chance in the game. Dimitar Berbatov got his head on a corner but it was directed over the bar. The Bulgarian was also penalized for his foul on Mexer in the build-up. Berbatov was in the thick of it once again as an overlapping Fabinho whipped a ball to the striker but this time his header was hit into the air and goalkeeper, Benoit Costil collected with ease.
Both sides could have increased their goal tallies in quick succession as close offside decisions rightfully went against the two sides. A bit of footballing genius from Ntep got an ovation from the crowd as he managed to wriggle himself out of a tight situation with no bother at all, continuing on his onslught of Monaco. Ntep got ahead of his man once more and cut back to a waiting Doucoure who was at the edge of the danger area. The tall Rennes midfielder made Monaco goalkeeper, Subasic work as he was forced to pull off a 'camera save'.
The two men linked up again soon after as Ntep miraculously picked out Doucoure near the six-yard box but Toulalan got in the way of the shot on goal. As the half time whistle sounded, the Rennes fans cheered off their winning team.
The second half started as the first ended with Doucoure being a main focalpoint in the Rennes attack- unable to find a shot inside the box. The big Frenchman would be disappointed as he has been unable to bring similar chances to fruition all season. Ntep was back to giving his opponents a hard time down the left flank and was taken out by Nabil Dirar after the small winger was showboating near the centre of the pitch. However it was to be Dirar's team mate, Andrea Raggi who would be booked for mouthing off to Ntep.
Monaco had their best chances of the game as Fabinho, Monaco's best means of an attack, crossed into the box and met an unknown head in a Monaco jersey, with several players going for the ball in a strumash in the box. The header was airborne and Costil came and collected the ball. The closest Monaco came to getting a goal back came when Echiéjilé met a rebounded shot, striking a ferocious effort of his own which smacked the crossbar.
Echiéjilé and Fabinho were to hit consecutive efforts in the following phases of play, with the fullback coming closest making Costil save in an unorthodox manner after being made to work again with the follow up. Rennes feeling a bit shook up with the previous stages of play, managed to create a bit of nerviness of their own as midfielder, Vincent Pajot directed a header goalwards forcing Subasic to pull out the heroics once again.
The Monaco nerves were on show for all to see, as Rennes pressed forcing defensive errors in their opponents- Gelson Fernandes picking the ball up outside the box but attemting a poor wide effort. Adrea Raggi, who was already having a shaky match as it was couldn't clear a simple Rennes cross properly and sliced the ball over the bar for a corner.
Ntep had the ball in the back of the net off his own accord this time, unfortunately it was ruled offside as the winger was a yard offside when the ball was hit towards him. Doucoure was the next Rennes player to be in the forefront of an attack, but like before he couldn't fathom a scoring opportunity.
As the match drew to a close, Rennes went more defensively as Ntep left the field of play to a standing ovation for the more defensive Steven Moreira. The only chance of note from the away side for a late push was Moutinho who nodded a header towards the path of Costil who collided with the post and crossbar in the process. As the full time whistle blew a loud roar rang around the stadium.
The win took Rennes unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games, and placing them in fourth for the time being, with Costil proclaiming that the position was 'deserved'. The next games for the Breton side are definitely manageable, and positive results in them will send the fans and players ecstatic. Monaco host strugglers Lens next and then travel Toulouse before playing in an important European fixture away to Zenit.