Rennes’ ruthless flair smokes hapless Nantes

After a positive start, the Rouge et Noir got their just reward in the 26th minute, as a ball into the area saw Martin Terrier reach Arnaud Kalimuendo, and his cross to the near post took a deflection that fell squarely to Gouiri, who could not miss with the header from point-blank range for his third goal of the campaign. He almost claimed a second before half-time too, but a deflected ball after yet another clever passage of play just evaded his reach, with Alban Lafont well-beaten.

Terrier saw a header fly wide on the stroke of half-time, despite having the whole goal to aim at, and it was evident that Antoine Kombouare needed something drastic to save the derby. He would instead keep his powder dry, but the one-way traffic continued, with Kalimuendo firing over the bar, shortly before smoke from crowd flares clouded Steve Mandanda’s 18-yard box, temporarily putting Nantes’ already-starved frontline at a further disadvantage.

While the smoke eventually cleared, Nantes’ plans for a leveller remained as clear as mud, and Ludovic Blas in particular cut an isolated figure, as the second half failed to match the ferocity of the first. Rennes continued to look threatening, and a quick break with 20 minutes to play saw the right flank open up, with Terrier picking up a pass and shooting inside the box, only for a yellow shirt to block his effort.

There was only one team that ever looked likely to get a second though, and some quick interplay between Lesley Ugochukwu and Lovro Majer decimated the Nantes midfield lines, and Gouiri latched on to the final pass, before Terrier beat the offside trap to latch onto a through-ball and fire past Lafont to seal the points. Rennes also had time for a third goal late on, and Desire Doue poached the best goal of the day by far. He found himself unmarked in the area to receive a Terrier cross, and hit a peach of a half-volley into the far corner past Lafont.

While that put extra gloss on a seventh win across their last ten home head to heads against Nantes, the occasion was somewhat ruined by a straight red card for Joe Rodon, who denied a clear goalscoring opportunity, but Rennes stood firm to seal a clean sheet and claim the bragging rights in Breton.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Martin Terrier (Stade Rennais)