Monaco wins in Rennes and comes back to within three points of the podium
The game: 3-2
This Rennes-Monaco promised to be attractive. And he kept all his promises. At the end of a rhythmic match rich in goals, Monaco came to win at Rennes (3-2) by being clinical in the finish against Rennes less in verve than usual. The team from the Principality followed up with a fourth consecutive victory in Ligue 1, thus confirming its return to the race for the podium after a complicated start to the season. The princely club is regaining hope and is back to 3 points from third place as the Bretons see their series of seven consecutive victories at home come to an end this evening.
There was no observation tower in this game, and the goals came very early. On Rennes’ first incursion, Flavien Tait, who arrived full ball in the area, came to ignite a sold-out Roazhon Park this evening by deceiving Nübel with a beautiful header (3rd) after a cross dropped by his captain Hamari Traoré. But the advantage will have been short-lived for the Bretons. The Monegasques responded tit for tat to the opener of their evening host.
After a marvelous opening from Aleksandr Golovin, Vanderson, taking advantage of Birger Meling’s hesitation, came to adjust Alemdar perfectly with a shot from the right foot (12th). After a first quarter of an hour of madness, the match (slightly) dropped in intensity causing Rennes to put their foot on the ball (63% possession) while Monaco knew how to be dangerous on the counter (7 shots).
On returning from the locker room, the Rennais proved to be too messy offensively and ended up being punished by intractable Monegasques on the counter-attack. Starting on the edge of offside, Ben Yedder took advantage of Volland’s deflection of the head to score his nineteenth goal of the season. Rennes did try to find a second wind in this meeting, but without being dangerous even if Guirassy missed the equalizing ball (71st) when he saw the ball above Nübel’s cage. And Monaco was quick to drive the point home. Myron Boadu, who had just replaced Ben Yedder, came to crucify the Breton team after an extension cross from Vanderson, excellent tonight.
At the very end of the game, the reduction of Martin Terrier’s score on penalty will not change the final score, even if it allows him to return to Ben Yedder in the scorer rankings. With this victory, AS Monaco strikes a blow and climbs to fourth place in the standings.
The player: Vanderson superactive on his right side
Less known than Ben Yedder, Volland or Golovin, the Brazilian winger was the spearhead of the Monegasque attack on the lawn of Roazhon Park. Untenable on his right side, Vanderson made his top speed speak by starting behind Meling’s back on the opener, before serving perfectly Boadu who allowed his team to make the break. A full match for the 20-year-old player who marks here his second but in Ligue 1 in twelve games played.
120
By scoring the second goal for the Monegasques this evening, Wissam Ben Yedder scored the 120th goal of his career in Ligue 1. Only Kylian Mbappé is currently doing better among active players (127 goals).