PLAYER RATINGS | Rennes 1-2 Monaco: 10-man Monégasques go second with hard-fought win

AS Monaco had the opportunity to go second in the Ligue 1 standings this Saturday afternoon at Rennes’ Roazhon Park. Former Premier League players Mohammed Salisu, Denis Zakaria, Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun all started for Adi Hütter’s Monégasques. After a flurry of half-chances for Monaco, the clearest goal-scoring opportunity fell to the hosts when an unmarked Arthur Theate missed his header from a corner kick.

However, the visitors had the upper hand on proceedings, helped in that regard by Rennes’ struggles to build from the back, resulting in bloopers from their youthful centre-backs. Still, the Monaco strikers were far from having a field day. Aleksandr Golovin’s influence was as poor as Takumi Minamino’s whilst former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun failed to make his mark on his game at first. The American saw a timid effort easily finding its way towards Mandand’s gloves. The first half ended with a wayward Vanderson shot that went wide.

A goal and a red card for Vanderson

The Principality side returned to the pitch with renewed ambitions and was rewarded for it. Both Enzo Le Fée and Warmed Omari failed to clear Ismail Jakobs’ cross from the left, allowing Balogun to find Vanderson whose deflected shot found its way home. Julien Stéphan rang the changes with Adrien Truffert and the struggling Arnaud Kalimuendo and Ludovic Blas making way for Mohamadou Nagida, Bertug Yildirim and Martin Terrier.

Although they deserved to lead, Monaco had trouble keeping hold of the proceedings. The game turned sour with the visitors resorting to tactical fouls aplenty – Salisu, Zakaria and Wilfried Singo all receiving bookings. Tempers flared to a point it was all but certain that the game wouldn’t end with all 22 players on the pitch. It was Vanderson who was given his marching orders for an unnecessary second yellow card twenty minutes from time, with Rennes now smelling blood. Philipp Köhn emphatically parried Theate’s goalward header.

Rennes’ chance had just passed. With ten minutes left on the clock, Youssouf Fofana scored on a mazy run his first league goal, making full use of Rennes’ lenient defence. The game was put to bed, or so it seemed. The France international conceded a late penalty duly converted by Benjamin Bourigeaud. Monaco were on the ropes again, but they eventually held on to three vital points. Monaco are second in the league whilst Rennes’ season of woes continues. The Bretons are now averaging a point a game.

Rennes players ratings

Steve Mandanda, 5

Warmed Omari, 4

Jeanuël Belocian, 4

Arthur Theate, 5

Benjamin Bourigeaud, 6

Enzo Le Fée, 4

Baptiste Santamaria, 5 – In the absence of Nemanja Matic, he brought much-needed physicality and drive to Rennes’ midfield.

Adrien Truffert, 4

Ludovic Blas, 3 – He is nowhere near the decisive and mercurial playmaker he once was with FC Nantes. Erratic, wasteful and individualistic for the better part of the game. He was, logically, the first Rennes played to make way at the hour mark.

Arnaud Kalimuendo, 3

Amine Gouiri, 4

Monaco players ratings

Philipp Köhn, 7

Wilfried Singo, 6

Mohammed Salisu, 6 – The former Saint started his first Ligue 1 game with Les Monégasques and was mostly faultless in dealing with Rennes strikers. A more than welcome return for Hütter.

Denis Zakaria, 6 – As a centre-back, the former Chelsea loanee was at ease in building from the back. He completed 33 of his 34 attempted passes. Booked for a lunge on Yildirim.

Vanderson, 5 – He epitomized the best and worst of Monaco in the second half, scoring his second goal of the season before receiving a red card, forcing his teammates to survive a late onslaught.

Mohamed Camara, 4 – Lucky to escape a red card for a big lunge on Truffert’s ankle, the former Strasbourg was too many times outpaced by Rennes midfielders and on a knife edge all along. It’s a miracle he exited the pitch without a red card.

Youssouf Fofana, 6 – The France international put in a dominant display for his return. No Monaco player completed more passes than him. On the back of his solo goal, he lunged in Omari to hand Rennes a lifeline only minutes from time, without consequences fortunately.

Ismail Jakobs, 6

Takumi Minamino, 4

Aleksandr Golovin, 4

Folarin Balogun, 6 – The former Arsenal man was nowhere to be found in the first half-hour before stepping up big, causing all kinds of problems to Rennes defenders with his pace and physicality. He showed good composure and decision-making to feed Vanderson for the opener.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval