An inspired Paul-Georges Ntep performance was the key for Stade Rennais to brush aside Toulouse at Roazhon Park.
Both sides trade early goals
Rennes started the brightest of the two teams but didn't find the chance at goal to open the scoring. However, the early positive display by the hosts was soon undone as Martin Braithwaite put his side in front. The scorer was found unmarked by a cross from the wing and got in front of Rennes 'keeper, Benoit Costil, to tap in.
Not to be downhearted by conceeding early, Rennes kept their heads up and the attacking moves kept coming. Sylvain Armand was unfortunate to see his header from a corner go wide of the far post after a delicious ball the six yard box. Giovanni Sio passed up a glorious opportunity to level when his side footed effort from inside the box went over the bar.
Rennes bossed the possession stats notching up an impressive 67% and were rewarded with the important leveler. Ludovic Baal whipped in a dangerous ball into the box which troubled Toulouse stopper, Mauro Goicoechea. The goalkeeper flapped at the cross and this allowed Sio to get a vital touch on the ball to send it into the net.
At the other end, Braithwaite should have got his second of the match. A threaded pass to the striker allowed him to go one-on-one with Costil. The scorer forced a strong save from the Rennes number one.
Sio could have had his second of the match too but saw his strike go wide from another side-footed shot. Likewise, Armand and Pedro Henrique had pops at goal but notched up more marks on the shots off target statstic. Before the break, Somália could have sent Toulouse ahead but for the quick reactions of Costil to spare the blushes of his back line.
Ntep sparks the second half into life
The second half needed a while to produce anything noteworthy. Sio had the best chance from the restart when he wriggled himself into a position to shoot, however the angle was closed off.
Roazhon Park was injected with life when Paul-Georges Ntep entered the field after being out due to injury. The winger's impact was immidiate as he headed a ball through to Sio which forced Goicoechea to bring him down in the box. Armand took the penalty which was parried back out to the skipper who tapped into the open net.
It was up to Braithwaite again to try and return the game to a level footing. A nothing cross into the box seemed to trickle to the back of the six yard box to meet the striker. It seemed he was surprised with having the ball and just couldn't direct his shot on target.
Sio seals the three points
As time was running out for Toulouse, they crowded the Rennes penalty area - knocking at the strong door of a defence. In a dramatic turn of events, the host turned the tables and lodged a late counter-attack. This ended with Ntep manufacturing a lethal piece of skill and a key cut-back in the box to Sio for him to notch the third goal of the game for Rennes.
This win was the third game in a row for Rennes, who sit on third place in the Ligue 1 table with others still to play; three really is the magic number for Montanier's men. Toulouse experienced their second loss of the campaign and are stuck in lower mid-table.
Le Téfécé host another in-form side after the international break in Stade Reims. Meanwhile, Rennes have a nervy derby match away to Nantes.