(Ligue 1 2022/2023): Highlights Rennes - Clermont

Maren took on Clermont at Rhone Zone Park on Sunday afternoon with the hosts looking to get their push for the European places back on track. Their N8 had suffered a painful couple of weeks following a 3-1 defeat at home to Lille that since replaced them in the top five with another 3-1 loss this time to Toulouse before losing 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie. Clermont, meanwhile, perhaps had less to play for, their impressive run having come to an end, leaving them rooted in mid-table and far from the European spots, but also far from danger. They're in need of a win though, after two draws and two defeats in their last four games and started off on the right foot, Réjean Quillet with an elegant flick and a shot straight at Steve Mondanda. The hosts improved as the first half wore on, and deservedly found the breakthrough eight minutes before half-time, albeit with the help of a lucky deflection. Alvaro Maia did well to thread a neat ball into the path of Arnaud Calimuendo, the striker saw his effort loop up over Maury Dior. Frustration for Mathias Villadesca, getting a boot to the shot, but only helping it find the net. Kiva helpless. It was almost a case of déjà vu in north-west France a few moments later, ball breaking to Calimuendo, and again his shot deflected goalwards, this time Dior doing excellently to get down quickly to his right. Pascal Gastien hoping Lady Luck would give him a break, and undeterred his side went on in pursuit of an immediate response. Even in inches of finding an equaliser, when Neto Borges headed the ball into the ground, but it bounced narrowly over the bar. It's their emphatic 6-0 win in the first ever top-flight duel between the two clubs in September 2021, and had surprisingly lost the next two, so determined to bounce back in this fixture as well as the league in general, and they made their lead twice as comfortable in the 65th minute. Carl Toko Akambi's shot was parried into the path of Calimuendo, and the easy task of turning home into an empty net doubled his tally for the afternoon. Two goals down and having failed to find the net in four consecutive league matches, the comeback always seemed unlikely for Clermont. That didn't stop them trying, but sometimes it's just not your day, and that certainly seemed to be the case, as Mohamed Cham was denied a combination of Mondanda and the post. Down the other end, Clermont did finally catch a break of sorts. Adrian Truffaut's low shot well saved again by Dior, this time Bierteska there to prevent an easy goal on the rebound for Amine Gouiri. From there, Rennes comfortably soar out the remainder of the contest to earn a valuable three points that ends their three-match losing streak, sees them reclaim their top-five spot. Clermont remain 12th, but have now gone five league matches without a win.