MONACO CASH-IN ON RENNES’S MISFORTUNE AS THEY BEAT THEM 2-3 AT ROAZHON PARK.

Monaco closed the gap to Rennes in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) places to just three points with a 3-2 victory which ended the hosts’ seven-match unbeaten league run.

A frantic start to this clash saw both sides exchange blows, but it was Rennes who landed the first meaningful punch. Hamari Traoré’s marauding run down the right concluded with a pinpoint delivery onto the head of Flavien Tait who made no mistake in guiding his header beyond the desperate dive of Alexander Nübel. Monaco weren’t on the canvas for long though and they hit back almost instantaneously as Vanderson latched onto Aleksandr Golovin’s mouth-watering cross-field pass. Martin Terrier ought to have reestablished Rennes’ advantage, but his deft dink was read well by Nübel, who left the Frenchman red-faced as he stood and caught his effort.

Rennes were made to pay for their missed chances early in the second half as Wissam Ben Yedder broke free from deep, stared into the white’s of Doğan Alemdar’s eyes and finished low beneath the Rennes’ stopper. Despite trailing, Rennes offered little by way of attacking intent and it was in fact Monaco who should’ve extended their advantage through Golovin, but he dragged his effort wide of the post. Bruno Génésio introduced Serhou Guirassy in a desperate attempt to salvage the points, and his switch almost paid dividends immediately, but as he latched onto a loose ball in the box, his effort drifted over the bar.

Yet again, Rennes were made to pay for their missed chances as Monaco doubled their advantage ten minutes from time to effectively wrap up the points. Myron Boadu was the man presented with the simplest of tasks to stroke home from a matter of yards after Vanderson put the ball on a plate for him.

Terrier did add a late consolation from the penalty spot, but it was to be no more than just that. Victory for Monaco ended Rennes’ seven-match winning home run, though it is still the home side who hold the trump card in the UCL race with a three-point cushion potentially a little too much for Monaco to overcome at this stage in the season, but a win does at least keep their hopes alive