Stade Rennais FC 0-1 Girondins de Bordeaux

THE MATCH

On their return to action after the international break, Rennes were desperate to get back on track after a disappointing sequence of results at home and in the Champions League. They welcomed back 18-year-old midfield sensation Eduardo Camavinga after he missed his club’s previous four outings due to injury, but it was Ben Arfa who made the difference.

Facing his old side, the maverick French international forward struck the only goal of the night in the 36th minute as he collected a Samuel Kalu pass and sidestepped both Nayef Aguerd and Damien Da Silva before planting a low shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Rennes did come close to an equaliser just before half-time when Romain Del Castillo collected a long cross-field ball before smashing a shot from 20 metres off the crossbar. However there was to be no comeback as Julien Stéphan’s side toiled in the second half and slumped to a third straight defeat in all competitions.

They have won just once in nine games all told, a worrying slump ahead of their Champions League meeting with Chelsea in Brittany.

THE PLAYER: Hatem Ben Arfa

Ben Arfa returned to haunt Rennes here as his first goal in a Bordeaux shirt proved the difference. The French international starred in the Rennes team that won the Coupe de France in 2019 before leaving and having a disappointing spell in Spain last season with Real Valladolid. He signed for Bordeaux last month and this goal means he now has seven top-flight goals against Rennes in his career, at least three more than against any other side.

THE STAT: 5

Rennes have collected just five points from their last six Ligue 1 Uber Eats outings.