The players and the staff of Monaco can congratulate each other. They have struck a blow and can still dream of qualifying for the Champions League. Between two teams in form, Rennes which remained on 6 wins (and a draw) in its last 7 games and Monaco on a finally upward trajectory (3 successes in a row), it was therefore the visitors who carried out the superb operation in the race for Europe. Monaco climbed back to 4th place, three points behind Rennes, whose place on the podium was weakened. The derby between Monaco and Nice on Wednesday promises.
What you must remember
The start of the match was led with a bang by both teams. From the 3rd minute, Hamari Traoré, after a one-two with Gaëtan Laborde on his side, finds the header of Flavien Tait who arrives launched (1-0, 3rd). The 9th assist for the Malian captain of Rennes and the 3rd goal for Tait.
But Monaco quickly governed with a sumptuous opening by Aleksandr Golovin, well exploited by Vanderson (2nd goal this season) who took advantage of the hesitation of Birger Meling (1-1, 12th). The intensity did not drop then during the first period. If Rennes have possession (63% in the first period), it is Monaco who have obtained the best possibilities, especially at the start of the match.
The Monegasques concretize on a deflection of Kevin Volland of the head which benefits Wissam Ben Yedder, left at the limit of offside, before scoring with an unstoppable strike with the right foot (1-2, 57th). It’s his 19th goal this season. After two big chances for Rennes with Flavien Tait countered by Axel Disasi (67th) then Serhou Guirassy above (71st), Monaco definitely knocks out his opponent.
On a counter initiated by Aurélien Tchouaméni who shifts Vanderson, the Dutchman Myron Boadu, barely entering the game, resumes (1-3, 77th). Often unhappy and unskillful, he scored his third goal of the season. The reduction in Martin Terrier’s penalty score (2-3, 90th + 3) does not change anything. with 4 shots on target and three goals, Monaco proved to be surgically efficient. Rennes, which has scored three goals for the first time in L1 this season, has come to a halt.
Player: Wissam Ben Yedder
This match between Rennes and Monaco was also the clash between 3 of the 4 top scorers in L1 behind Kylian Mbappé (20 goals). But between Wissam Ben Yedder (18 goals), Martin Terrier (18) and Gaëtan Laborde (14), it was therefore the Monegasque captain who left with a smile by inflating his total with this 19th goal in 31 games, just like Martin Terrier whose penalty score reduction will have been too late. The midfield duo Tchouameni-Fofana who recovered 19 balls flew over the midfield.
The number: 1
This is the first time this season that Monaco has managed to climb into the Top 5 of L1. In the hot seat, will coach Philippe Clement, who arrived in December, succeed in his bet, which seemed unlikely a month ago, to bring Monaco to the podium?
The reactions
Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) au micro de Prime Video : “It was a big game and we managed to win it. We are super happy, we did the job. Four wins in a row, it’s been a long time since that happened to us. We come back well but we will do the accounts at the end. I just got out because I had calf cramps, nothing serious. »
Benjamin Bourigeaud (Rennes): “It’s a setback, necessarily a poor performance like that, it doesn’t feel good. I think we made too many mistakes to hope for better. We lacked aggression. But we will analyze all that calmly to quickly remobilize and bounce back from Wednesday. »