Nantes too good for Rennes

Nantes' positive start to life back in Ligue 1 continued with an impressive 3-1 win over Rennes at the Stade de la Route de Lorient.

Nantes' positive start to life back in Ligue 1 continued with an impressive 3-1 win over Rennes at the Stade de la Route de Lorient. Despite hitting back with a second-half Nelson Oliveira strike, the hosts suffered defeat at home for the first time this season thanks to goals from Filip Djordjevic, Serge Gakpe and a late Lucas Deaux strike - the first time Rennes had conceded in four matches. Victory for Les Canaris saw them leapfrog their opponents to sixth despite only winning half of their eight matches so far this season. The visitors seemed keen to get the ball to the highly-rated Gakpe early on and his surging runs down the right began to cause problems for the Rennes defence. It was the Togoloese wideman who brought the first effort at goal in the game with 10 minutes played but his drive from distance sailed over Benoit Costil's crossbar. That early intent shown by Michel Der Zakarian's men paid dividends though on 17 minutes when Djordjevic fired them into an early lead. Deaux broke free down the left before picking out the Serbian striker whose initial header came back of Costil's post but he was on hand to pounce on the rebound. Nantes continued to impress but had a let off with nearly half an hour played when Julien Feret fed Oliveira but he scuffed his first-time effort allowing Remy Riou to gather with ease. Rennes were next to ride their luck when Romain Danze appeared to handle inside the area and nothing was given but, despite that, Les Canaris soon had the ball in the back of the net again. The lively Gakpe picked the ball up on the left and twisted and turned his way to goal before firing beyond Costil just inside the near post. Phillipe Montanier brought on Romain Alessandrini at half-time after a seven-month injury lay-off and his introduction seemed to have a positive effect on the hosts. Rennes almost pulled a goal back when Foued Kadir released Feret but, after rounding Riou, the experienced Frenchman could only find the upright from a tight angle. But Oliveira did make the breakthrough moments later. Albeit fortuitously, the ball bobbled for the Portugal international allowing him a free shot at goal and he made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball beyond Riou. Rennes pressed for an equaliser with Alessandrini giving his side extra impetus in attack but the hosts were still susceptible to the counter and got a big let-off when Alejandro Bedoya's touch let him down after breaking through with a clear sight of goal. That was a sign of things to come though as Deaux added a third in injury time when the Rennes defence stopped after seeing a raised flag for Fernando Aristeguieta and the Nantes full-back was allowed a clear run on goal to secure all three points.