MONTPELLIER 2-1 RENNES

THE MATCH

Rennes are now winless in five league outings for the first time since October 2019 and have been joined on 38 points by improving Montpellier.  Rennes began brightly and Jérémy Doku (6') had a shot blocked by Nicolas Cozza, but Michel Der Zakarian's Montpellier were clinical in the first half, scoring with their two attempts on target.

Mavididi (17') scored his first (17') when he powered a shot under Alfred Gomis' bar from a wonderful Téji Savanier cross and the English forward doubled the lead (28') after Jonas Martin lost the ball. Elye Wahi's shot was blocked by Nayef Aguerd but the ball broke to Mavididi, who took out Damien Da Silva and Aguerd, before finishing in style left-footed.

Rennes almost pulled one back (41') but Jonas Omlin tipped Hamari Traoré's shot over the bar and then - at the other end - Gaëtan Laborde (44') fired narrowly wide. Mavidid (50') won a penalty when he was fouled by Traoré but Savanier fired the spot kick over the bar.

Rennes almost cut the arrears but Omin was equal to Doku's cross-shot (52') and then Montpellier wasted a triple chance to increase their lead (62') with the first falling to Mavididi and the subsequent two to Laborde. Serhou Guirassy (78') latched onto a Clément Grenier pass and rounded Omiin to pull a goal back, his fourth of the season and his first since September.

THE PLAYER: Stephy Mavididi

The English forward has now scored six Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals this season. Formerly of Arsenal and Juventus, the 22-year-old doesn't get as many headlines as Andy Delort (out with a groin injury) or Laborde but has now exceeded the five goals he managed for Dijon in his debut French campaign in 2019-2020.

THE STAT:  3

Montpellier have won their last three Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches, having failed to win any of their previous nine (D3, L6).