PLAYER RATINGS | Metz 2-3 Rennes: Arnaud Kalimuendo’s injury-time winner deepens Metz’s relegation fears | OneFootball

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 32, 04/05/24

Arnaud Kalimuendo’s injury-time winner (2-3) gave Stade Rennais a crucial three points in their search for European football next season, whilst also dealing FC Metz a considerable blow in their fight for survival.

Georges Mikautadze had given Metz the lead with an audacious lob over Steve Mandanda, which provisionally relegated bottom side Clermont Foot. However, Julien Stéphan’s side fought back and got the equaliser through Amine Gouiri, whose deflected effort was tantalisingly out of reach for Alexandre Oukidja.

The Metz goalkeeper was tested on multiple occasions as Rennes pushed for a second, however, he held firm and his impressive performance was rewarded just before the break. Once again, it was the influential Mikautadze who got in behind the Rennes defence, this time squaring for Papa Amadou Diallo to allow Metz to retake the advantage.

The match turned in the 69th minute. Mikautadze once again fed Diallo, whose goal-bound shot was incredibly stopped by the retreating Theate, who got a head on the ball to turn it over. Having prevented Les Rennais from going two down, Rennes equalised just three minutes later through Benjamin Bourigeaud, who converted a spot-kick after Kalimuendo was bundled to the ground.

Mikautadze harshly dismissed

Metz, who currently occupy the relegation play-off spot, were desperate for a winner after rivals Le Havre AC won earlier in the day and as the game opened up, they were punished on the counter, with Kalimuendo, who had been rather subdued, popped up when it mattered to get the winner in injury time.

Things would get worse for Metz. Mikautadze, the only reason why Les Grenats are still alive and kicking with two games remaining, was sent off for an off-the-ball collision with Kalimuendo. The decision looked harsh in real time and despite being sent to the screen to review the incident, Ruddy Buquet kept with his original decision. It is a red card that – if not overturned by the LFP – could prove momentous in Metz’s attempts to retain their Ligue 1 status.

Metz remain 16th and in the relegation play-off spot, whilst Rennes move ahead of Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais (provisionally) into seventh. Stéphan’s side cling onto the hope of securing European football for next season for another week.

Rennes player ratings

Steve Mandanda – 3

The Frenchman was completely at sea for Mikautadze’s opener, neither coming nor staying, giving the Metz forward the chance to pull off his audacious lob.

Adrien Truffert – 5

Arthur Theate – 4

Whilst it was his intervention, saving Diallo’s goal-bound shot off the line, that proved the turning point in the match, the Belgian was at least in part responsible for Metz’s first two goals, losing Mikautadze on both occasions.

Christopher Wooh – 5

Alidu Seidu – 6

Martin Terrier – 5

Désiré Doué – 7

The young Frenchman has been thriving in a more central role in recent weeks. He has adapted well to playing in central midfield and displayed a good range of passing to help his team break through Metz’s tight defence.

Azor Matusiwa – 5

Benjamin Bourigeaud – 6

Amine Gouiri – 5

Arnaud Kalimuendo – 5

Selected Metz player ratings

Georges Mikautadze – 7

Another decisive performance from the Georgian international, who showed great awareness for the opener, great vision and execution for Metz’s second and almost assisted a third, playing Diallo through before Les Grenats were ultimately denied by Theate’s goal-line clearance. He was (very) unfortunate to be sent off late in injury time for a collision with Kalimuendo off-the-ball.

Alexandre Oukidja – 7

Oukidja has lost Metz points this season, he has admitted as much but he almost earned his side a crucial point, or even three, with his performance against Rennes. He pulled off multiple crucial saves, including from Bourigeaud in the first half but it wasn’t enough.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle