Montpellier sent out a huge message tonight as they ended the undefeated run of Stade Rennais at the home of the Breton side.
The away side came into the game in unsteady form, sitting mid-table and still feeling the effects of a 0-2 home defeat to St Etienne. Rennes were the on-form side in the league alongside PSG, as they had racked up an impressive run of eight games undefeated. A win for Rennes and they could have went to third place.
In the opening proceedings of the game Rennes kept the majority of possession by far, not finding any holes in the Montpellier defence to create an opportunity. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Romain Danze both had half-hearted efforts at troubling their opponents.
Rennes' game plan seemed to be 'Keep calm and pass to Habibou' for the majority of the game...at least it was calm at first. And the first example of this was when the striker received the ball from the wing inside the box, managing to hold off his touch-tight opponent until he appeared to be brought down as he pulled the trigger on a shot which never threatened the goalkeeper, Jonathan Ligali.
Jonas Martin of Montpellier tried to get his side's foot in the door as his darting run forward was halted, claiming he was fouled. Rennes midfielder, Anders Konradsen found himself on a hit and hope from 30 yards which went way over the bar. Rennes weren't letting their opponents anywhere near the ball, tallying up 63% of the possession at one stage.
When the away side did get the ball, they gave Rennes a major scare and the first real scoring opportunity of the match. Lucas Barrios found himself through on goal and managed to dink the ball past Costil who went to ground, only to have veteran centre-half save his team's skin by clearing off the line. The ex-PSG stopper injured himself in the process.
Montpellier forced Costil to produce heroics of his own as Saihi asked questions with his effort from just outside the box mad the in-form keeper palm away for a corner. Rennes got a chance of their own soon after as Ntep broke away down the wing but Congre got himself in the way of the pass towards Hosiner, defending well to keep the match level.
The scoring was opened in 23 minutes and it was Jonas Martin, who had already put shivers down the spine of Rennes, that scored for La Paillade. In promising build-up play, Barrios got a low cross away from the side of the box to meet a waiting Martin who notched in from close range.
Rennes looked to get an immediate response to bring the game back level, and was unlucky not to do so. Habib Habibou received the ball in the box but took time to get it out from under his feet, eventually scuffing an effort towards Ligali. The Bretons tried again with Ntep placing a low cross just behind Hosiner who was running into the box. If 'goal-mouth scramble' was to be explained to someone unfamiliar to football, then this was to be the best example- Ntep cut the ball back to Habibou who hit the post from close range; the ball bounced back off the goalkeeper who managed to hold on as Hosiner tried to pounce on the ball.
It took time for the second half to match the excitement of the first, but it certainly hit with a bang as Montpellier doubled their lead. Morgan Sanson, who came on as a substitute, was picked out by a smart pass inside the two Rennes centre-backs and an easy finish past Costil tipped a great piece of play. Montpellier were replicating what Rennes had been doing to other teams on their travels with terrific counter-attacking play.
After two glimpses of opportunities from Saihi and Doucoure at both ends of the field, Montpellier were in dreamland as they further enhanced their lead. The Rennes defence was playing at its most vulnerable all season, unable to deal with a simple cross which landed at Barrios around the six yard box, who found an opening with superb footwork and left Costil helpless. Rennes thought they had brought one back, as Doucoure used his presence well to stick the ball in the net in front of goal, but the referee brought the play back as Habibou was seen to have fouled the defender in his attempt for the ball, previously.
Rennes tried to raise the tempo in a feeble bid to try and get a draw from the game. Ntep tried to pick out Habibou in the box, but Ligali was quicker than the striker and pounced on it. Benoit Costil made potentially save of the year as he managed to get in the way of Camara's four yard effort, coming from an awkward angle. Costil and Camara contested once again as the striker got in behind the lackluster centre backs- Costil once again equal to the effort.
Rennes had one final push to make the score more presentable as Bruls directed a costless-kick from outside the box just over the bar. Cheikh M'Bengue will be kicking himself after a strange decision to pass to Habibou, whilst being in a better scoring position, was blocked by the Montpellier defender. It was to be Anthony Mounier who would deepen the blow as the Rennes back four were caught to far up the field, and Mounier found himself costless to score with Armand playing him onside. Mounier side footed the ball past a helpless Costil with ease. Rennes long undefeated run came to an embarrassing end.
Four points now separate Rennes now in 6th place and Montpellier in 8th place as the current standings show. The home side now have to pick themselves back up and bring back the form they have showed all season. They should have an easy run away to strugglers Bastia in their next match, whilst Montpellier host Lens.