Toulouse defeated Rennes this evening ending an eight game search for a victory in Ligue 1, leaving their opponents without a win in nine.
An early goal by Oscar Trejo along with an Aleksandar Pesic volley canceled out Ola Toivonen's leveller late on in an exciting match for the neutral.
Rennes came into the game with a partly changed squad, heightening suspicion of a suspected problems internally at the club.
The visitors were put under immediate pressure by Toulouse and Aleksandar Pesic was making himself known to keeper Benoit Costil as his shot narrowly missed the target from distance.
Soon after, Le Tef were in front as Oscar Trejo zig-zagged through a feable Rennes defence and dinked the ball over the head of Costil who could only get the slightest of touches on the ball.
Rennes were definitely sitting ducks as they conceded, and there was a definite lack of ambiton amongst the travelers. Pedro Henrique tried his best to liven spirits when he cut inside from the right wing to hit a powerful strike which went by the post.
As quick as some sort of belief was setting in with Rennes, Toulouse found themselves back up the other end as Tongo Doumbia was faced with Costil one-on-one but the defender couldn't direct the ball on target.
Adrien Regattin linked up with striker, Martin Braithwaite, when the attacking midfielder floated a ball which was headed over by the Dane. Akpa Akpro produced a nice piece of skill to find space to hit a long ranger into Costil from the next attack.
Once again it was up to Pedro Henrique to try and get the game back level for his Rennes side. He was again forced to cut inside from the right and found similar results as the previous with the following shot.
Before half time, ex-Rennes man, Etienne Didot, brushed over Henrique in the box whilst intercepting but the veteran was lucky to see referee point to a corner. The final piece of magic in the first half was Pesic's successful connection with the ball as his bicycle kick from behind went close.
In the second half Paul-Georges Ntep replaced an uninspired Emir Lenjani on the left-wing. The wide-man was immediately involved in his side's hunt for an equalizer when he managed to come face to face with keeper Ali Ahamada. However it was the stopper who won the war of wits as he put of Ntep at the final moment.
Toulouse then got into another gear and Rennes were being left for dead in some cases. Another ex-Rennes man, Tongo Doumbia was in loads of space in his opponent's half but the vital pass across to Akpa Akpro was stopped at the key time.
Dragos Grigore, who had a quiet game up to this point could have immidiately thrust himself on the score sheet. The defender managed to leap into the air and direct his header goalwards from a corner which Costil was forced to parry out of play.
Rennes fearing conceding another goal, started to pick up in their offensive play. Pedro Henrique was unfortunate not to pick out Habibou with a cut-back in the box as the Toulouse defenders swept up. Then Habibou turned provider when his cross into the six yard box avoided Vincent Pajot but Henrique popped up behind him to head over the bar.
Ntep was involved in the next Rennes attacks- he dribbled into the box but his cut-back to Habibou, who was crowded out, caused no bother to the Toulouse defence. The following chance seen Ntep cut inside from the wing but the following shot went well wide of the opposite corner.
Finally Rennes were duly repaid for their hard work when Ola Toivonen slotted away a shot from close range. Moreira's cross towards Habibou came off the both of the Toulouse players and the ball fortunately fell to the Swede who couldn't miss.
The relief of drawing back level was quickly canceled out when in a similar scramble Toulouse got back in the lead. A corner came into the middle of the box which was poorly cleared by the Rennes men and Pesic set himself and volleyed into the left of the goal. The Toulouse players were joined by jubilant fans who jumped the barrier to cheer with their players.
Before full-time Rennes should have been level once again. Ali Ahamady committed to punching a cross a considerable distance from his line. However the clearance was poor, leaving Habib Habibou the simple task of hitting into the open door. The striker lost composure immidiately and volleyed spectacularly over the bar.