(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights RENNAIS - MONACO
In search of their first Ligue 1 Uber Eats victory away from home in over two months,
Monaco travelled to Roseanne Park on Saturday for a matchday 15 date with Rennes.
Rennes failed to follow up a strong win over Antelas' timeout as they lost a somewhat ill-tempered affair with Marseille.
2-0 the final score as both sides were reduced to 10 men, thus they dropped to 12th in the table.
Monaco, meanwhile, despite their poor form on the road, moved within two points of Nice in second after beating Montpellier 2-0.
Christopher Wu and Nemanja Matic were suspended, but there was a boost to the Rennes midfielder's use of Fafana returned to the squad
after missing the contest with La Payade due to illness.
After surviving a mild early scare in the shape of a long-range shot, it was the hosts who perhaps should have taken the lead.
Amine Gouiri unmarked in the box, unable to make the most of it.
Down the other end, Flo Baligan threw on goal and his weaker left foot, only partially testing the keeper.
So no goals but a closely contested first half.
Monaco with one win in six away games and Rennes with two wins in seven home games,
with two rather cancelling each other out here as well.
However, the break handed Monaco the chance to gather their thoughts and gain an edge over Rennes,
and they quickly broke the deadlock just seven minutes after the restart,
Van der Zand taking full advantage of Baligan's unselfish pass to coolly slot home into the bottom left-hand corner of Steve Mandanda's goal.
Brazilian with his fifth Liga Uber Eats goal, two of them coming against Rennes.
But it would be hero to zero for Van der Zand, the goalscorer with a second yellow card in the 75th minute.
Clumsy tackle, perhaps a little harsh for a second yellow, but either way, hope handed to the opposition.
Who nearly took advantage soon after from a corner, Arteteat going close.
Instead, it was Monaco who defied their disadvantage.
Baligan breaking away and finding that man, Fofana, who's striking to the bottom right in the 85th minute, made it 2-0.
Two assists for Baligan, surely job done.
First of the season, hardly a prolific scorer, six goals in six seasons.
However, there was to be a bit of a hero to zero moment as the goalscorer fouled.
Substitute Desiree Dewey at the other end and allowed Benjamin Bourdieu to halve the deficit from the spot late on.
But it would be too little, too late.
One final effort from 18-year-old Mohamedou Naguida, making his Liga Uber Eats debut, was brilliantly saved.
What a way to make your mark on the league, that would have been.
But 2-1 the final score.
This is the fourth time Monaco have reached the 30-point mark after 15 games of a Liga Uber Eats season in the 21st century.
Each time, they finished on the podium at the end of the season.
Rennes, meanwhile, have just 15 points after 15, their second lowest tally in the 21st century.