Stade Rennais FC

 1-0

 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

 

Erding headed in a Jonathan Pitroipa cross after 16 minutes to open his account for Rennes and, while Frédéric Antonetti's side were well worth their lead at half-time, they were left hanging on in the second half as bottom side Sochaux threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser. It wasn't to be, though, for Les Lionceaux, and they continue to prop up the rest of Ligue 1 after extending their winless run to nine games. Rennes benefited from results and postponements elsewhere to move back into the top five, and they trail third-placed Lille only on goal difference before the champions play on Sunday.

Following the last-minute call-off of their game against Lille, Sochaux hadn’t played since drawing at Lorient a fortnight ago. Their coach Mécha Bazdarevic handed a debut in midfield to Cameroon promise Yaya Banana, a January signing from Espérance Tunis. Rennes were playing their third game in eight days after their goalless draw at Nancy and then Tuesday’s Coupe de France last-16 victory against Evian-Thonon-Gaillard. Frédéric Antonetti brought back Onyekachi Apam for Chris Mavinga in defence, while Vincent Pajot replaced Tongo Hamed Doumbia in midfield.

Rennes’ recent form has not been great, but they started well in sub-zero temperatures at the Stade de la Route de Lorient. Erding had already come close to opening the scoring with a cross-cum-shot that almost caught out Sochaux goalkeeper Pierrick Cros before he did get the breakthrough in the 16^th minute.

Erding opens account

It was a flowing Rennes move, with Julien Féret finding Pitroïpa on the left. The Burkina Faso winger had broken away from marker David Sauget, before sending a measured cross to the back post for Erding, who did well to head home with Cros taken out of the game. It was the Turkish international striker’s first goal since moving to Brittany from Paris Saint-Germain last month and it was also his fifth in five meetings with Sochaux since leaving the club where he started his career.

That should have been the signal for the Bretons to go on and record a handsome win, with Sochaux – still without Malian striker Modibo Maïga due to the Africa Cup of Nations - offering nothing going forward whatsoever in the first 45 minutes, save for an Abdoul Razzagui Camara shot that flew high over the bar.

Pitroïpa and Jirès Kembo-Ekoko always looked dangerous and Yann M’Vila prompted the play superbly in midfield, but for all their possession, Rennes could not add to their lead, coming closest when Pitroïpa flicked on a Romain Danzé cross for Vincent Pajot, whose first-time volley rebounded off the bar.

Kembo – who is Rennes’ leading scorer this season with 11 goals – shot just past the post from a Féret through ball as the hosts started the second half brightly. But a Féret shot that landed on the roof of the net soon after was to prove Rennes’ last chance of the game as Sochaux began to show signs of life in the final half hour.

Davies returns

Bazdarevic threw on an extra striker in Sloan Privat and dropped Marvin Martin back into a deeper midfield role, before USA star Charlie Davies – back after a year on loan at DC United – came on for his first Ligue 1 appearance since October 2009. Sochaux saw more of the ball as a result of the changes, and Privat saw a snap-shot saved by Benoît Costil, before Damien Perquis somehow missed the target with only the goalkeeper to beat. Fortunately for the Sochaux captain, the offside flag was already up.

The offside flag also saved Rennes when Privat had the ball in the net ten minutes from time, and Antonetti’s side hung on for a win that, while not exactly convincing, does provide a real boost to their hopes of qualifying for Europe at the end of the campaign.

Teamsheet