Mexer scored late on to cancel out Gaëtan Laborde's opener as Girondins de Bordeaux battled back to draw 1-1 with Stade Rennais FC at the Matmut Atlantique.
Girondins de Bordeaux 1-1 Stade Rennais FC
THE MATCH
It had been a good week for Rennes. Defeated in their previous three outings, the Bretons replied with a 6-0 thrashing of Clermont Foot 63 on Wednesday, and they bounced into this one in high spirits. Jonas Martin tried to get things going in the first half with a thumping effort which Benoît Costil tipped over (7'). The home goalkeeper had a busy first half and stopped Laborde with a reaction save after Flavien Tait had found the striker with a fine cross (20'). Martin Terrier then fired a shot straight into Costil's gloves (24') as Rennes poured on the pressure. Bordeaux's vice captain showed why he is so trusted with further saves from Kamaldeen Sulemana (27'), Terrier (29') and Mexer (41') to keep the score at 0-0 against the odds before referee Hakim Ben El Hadj blew his whistle for half-time.
Deadlock broken
Whatever Vladimir Petkovic said to his side at the interval must have been ringing in their ears when they came out for the second half, and they looked much brighter despite not making any changes at the break. Timothée Pembélé hd a good chance early in the half when he raced onto Yacin Adli's pass, but his effort was saved by Costil's opposite number Alfred Gomis (52'). Laborde silenced the home support minutes later, meeting Hamari Traoré's cutback for a simple fifth goal of the campaign (56'). Terrier then looked to double Rennes' advantage when he picked up the ball from Birger Meling and aimed for Costil's top corner, but once again the 'keeper was equal to the attempt on his goal (73'). Bordeaux had the final say, though, Mexer getting the break of the ball in the Rennes box and firing home (88') and it ended 1-1.
THE PLAYER: Benoît Costil
This was an absolutely outstanding performance from the Bordeaux goalkeeper. Mexer might grab the headlines with his late equaliser, but that the game wasn't already beyond reach was down, almost single-handedly, to their goalkeeper. Such a reliable performer, he would surely have had more than one France cap hd he not been in the same generation as Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda.
THE STAT: 6
Rennes remain without an away win in Ligue 1 Uber Eats in six attempts. The last time les Rouge et Noir took all three points on the road was in April, when Jérémy Doku, Terrier and Serhou Guirassy scored in a 3-0 win over Angers SCO at the Stade Raymond Kopa.
