The pouring rain above Saint-Étienne which will have watered the players for a good part of the meeting and the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium behind closed doors did not announce anything good for this shock of the 5th day of Ligue 1. But both leaders of the championship, Saint-Étienne first and Stade Rennais second, in full swing at the start of the season with three victories and a draw in four matches, have proved this bad climate wrong.
At the end of a pleasant meeting, Stade Rennais came away victorious in this underdog duel against ASSE, and are guaranteed to occupy first place in Ligue 1 by the end of the day. A convincing victory against the Greens, the Bretons’ first at Geoffroy-Guichard in Ligue 1 since May 15, 2011, achieved in particular thanks to two of his summer recruits: Nayef Aguerd and Serhou Guirassy.
Ligue 1, 5th day: Rennes new leader after its demonstration in Saint-Etienne
The Rennes defender was the first to stand out, appearing in front of Timothy Kolodziejczak on a corner shot by Benjamin Bourigeaud in the first period (33rd). Aguerd is two goals this season, after the one scored in Nîmes on the third day, already on a pass from Bourigeaud. Guirassy, for his part, is at three after his goal this afternoon. The former Amiens first warmed up on a long first strike well repelled by Jessy Moulin (30th).
Entrants also decisive
The Rennes striker then made the difference by concluding a superb cross from Romain Del Castillo of a beautiful bicycle with a right foot at close range which left no chance for the Stéphanois goalkeeper (54 ‘). Proof that everything is rolling in Rennes, the three players involved in the third goal entered during the game: Jonas martin served as a relay for Raphinha before the winger throws Adrien hunou in depth, the Rennes striker lobbed Moulin to complete their clear success (90th). Ultra-realistic in front of goal, and very solid defensively like Aguerd and Damien Da Silva, Rennes left no chance for players from Claude Puel who concede their first defeat of the season.
Still, ASSE got off to a good start in both halves. Arnaud Nordin was the first to shoot on goal in the game, but his header from a cross Romain Hamouma went over the goals (15th). The small-sized striker even thought he’d equalized early in the second act, following a strike from Yvann Mason repelled by Romain Salin in his feet (47th). Offside, Nordin and the Stéphanois saw the equalizer canceled after the intervention of the VAR.
Denis Bouanga misses the mark
Often so decisive and scorer of two goals since the start of the season, Denis Bouanga missed him a huge opportunity in the first half. Well launched in depth by Adil Aouchiche, the Saint-Etienne striker could not choose between a cross and a strike, and can only regret this huge opportunity (20th) which could have put ASSE on the right track and radically changed the course of the game. Led for the first time this season, the Stéphanois never really knew how to be dangerous and endured the law of Rennais very solid.
The Bretons therefore secure the first place at the end of Matchday 5 with this great away victory. Stade Rennais has had a very good start to the season, with 13 points out of 15 possible, a great satisfaction for Stéphan and his players who are making the most of this period preceding the start of the Champions League on October 20. Ahead of the schedule with its debut in European competition, Rennes will have to conclude this first leg of the league against Reims next week, with the aim of consolidating its leadership position.