Rennes have missed the chance to go second place in the Ligue 1 table after suffering a loss to AS Monaco on their home turf. The contest ended in favour of the 2016/17 French champions, who have entered the top four as a result.
Philippe Clement’s men secured an all-important 2-3 victory in a tight and tense clash with Stade Rennais away from home. Goals from Vanderson, Wissam Ben Yedder, and Myron Broadu decided the match in their favour as they have now moved into the fourth spot in the table.
Monaco are well in contention to secure European football next season. Meanwhile, Rennes missed the chance to climb to the second position in the league table. Had they won it, they would have been second on the basis of goal difference. But defeat against Monaco means that second-placed Marseille can now extend their lead to six points while runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain have a 15-point lead which can be stretched to 18 points by April 17.
2021/22 Ligue 1 top 5
| # | Team | Matches played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 | PSG | 31 | +41 | 71 |
| 2 | Marseille | 31 | +22 | 59 |
| 3 | Rennes | 32 | +35 | 56 |
| 4 | AS Monaco | 32 | +16 | 53 |
| 5 | Strasbourg | 31 | +19 | 52 |
Rennes midfielder Flavien Tait drew first blood after opening the scoring in the third minute of the contest. He thumped the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal with his head after being set up by Hamari Traore.
Rennes getting their noses ahead this early in the match isn’t exactly surprising given that the side from Brittany have scored nine times within the first 15 minutes of a match this season – more than any other team in the French league.
However, the home side could hold on to their lead for just nine minutes, as midfielder Aleksandr Golovin found Vanderson in the box. The Brazilian defender fired the ball into the net with a first-time shot and led the countercharge for the visitors.
Monaco took the lead of the contest for the first time through striker Ben Yedder. The France international was set up by Kevin Volland, and it was his 19th goal of the season.
Myron Broadu then secured the insurance goal for Monaco with a 77th-minute strike from close range. He rifled the ball home to make it 1-3 in favour of the visitors.
Although Martin Terrier converted his penalty late in stoppage time, it proved to be nothing more than a consolation goal for the hosts. Monaco now trail Rennes by three points.
