PLAYER RATINGS | Rennes 2-0 Angers: Bretons win second Ligue 1 home game on the bounce | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, 15/12/24, Round 15

Goals from Albert Grønbæk and Lorenz Assignon proved enough for the visitors to bounce back for their final Ligue 1 game of the year. Rennes climbed up to 12th place while Angers remained in the deep end of the standings in 15th place, having lost four of their last five games.

The Match

After losing last week’s Brittany Derby against bitter rivals Nantes in the dying minutes, Rennes hosted 15th-placed Angers SCO for their final Ligue 1 game of the year. Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli had to watch today’s outing from the upper TV pen after he received a red card in the aftermath of Rennes’ disallowed injury-time equalizer at La Beaujoire. His trusted deputy Diogo Meschine took his place in the dugout.

Wales international Jordan James, who started his third Ligue 1 on the bounce, went just wide in the opening minutes with a curling effort from outside the box before Rennes were forced into an early change with the injured Amine Gouiri making way for Albert Grønbæk. The game’s pace dramatically slowed down as the hosts made very little effort to carve through the visitors. The latter were all too wasteful to break open Rennes’ back three.

The hosts eventually broke the deadlock after the half-hour mark. Right-sided wingback Lorenz Assignon carried the ball forward to find Ludovic Blas. The playmaker threaded a delicate left-footed cross for the unmarked Grønbæk to head home at the far post. All in all, it was a deserved lead for the hosts, given how poor Angers have been.

In the second half, Rennes kept control of proceedings, but their poor decision-making in the final third meant that they remained within Angers’ range. And in such a low-quality game, attended by 27.781 spectators, the Anjou side finally rebelled to set a late onslaught on Steve Mandanda’s goal. The former France international remained watchful to thwart an inswinging free-kick from Zinedine Ferhat.

Given their willingness to go forward to grab an equalizer, Angers were vulnerable at the back, proving the makers of their own misfortune. Himad Abdelli lost the ball upfield all by himself. Lorenz Assignon picked his pocket to double his side’s lead, his left-footed shot having taken a heavy deflection on its way in. It certainly wasn’t a game to remember, but the hosts got what they came for.

Rennes player ratings

Steve Mandanda – 5

Hans Hateboer – 6

Leo Ostigard – 5

Mohamadou Nagida – 5

Lorenz Assignon – 6

Jordan James – 5

Azor Matusiwa – 5

Adrien Truffert – 5

Ludovic Blas – 6

The playmaker looks like a player reborn after his disappointing debut season at Roazhon Park. The former Nantes talisman is increasingly taking the lead up front and flourishes as a right-sided attacking midfielder. As demonstrated by his left-footed cross towards Grønbæk’s header, Blas has upped his numbers in goal contributions this campaign. Replaced by Jota.

Amine Gouiri – N/A

His game ended prematurely after colliding with Fofana when trying to deflect Assignon’s cross. The Algeria international thought he could continue but he had no choice but to throw in the towel in the 14th minute. His substitute, Albert Grønbæk (6), broke the deadlock with an excellent header at Fofana’s near post.

Arnaud Kalimuendo – 4

Selected Angers player ratings

Himad Abdelli – 4

Lilian Raolisoa – 3

Ibrahima Niane – 3

GFFN | Bastien Cheval reporting from Rennes’ Roazhon Park