Rennes return to winning ways in France ahead of Chelsea trip

AFP , Saturday 31 Oct 2020

The result allows Julien Stephan's team to move level on 18 points with leaders and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, and also Lille, at the top of the Ligue 1 table

Rennes
Damien Da Silva and Nayef Aguerd got the goals as Rennes came from behind to beat Brest 2-1 in Ligue 1 on Saturday (Photo: AFP)

Rennes got back on track by coming from behind to beat Brest 2-1 in Ligue 1 on Saturday as they prepare to go to Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek.

Defensive duo Damien Da Silva and Nayef Aguerd got the goals for Rennes after Franck Honorat had given the visitors the lead at Roazhon Park in a Brittany derby played behind closed doors after France returned to a full national lockdown in an attempt to stem a surge in coronavirus cases.

The result allows Julien Stephan's team to move level on 18 points with leaders and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, and also Lille, at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Rennes are third on goal difference having played a game more, with PSG in action later Saturday at Nantes and Lille hosting Lyon on Sunday.

A third-place finish in the last, curtailed French season allowed Rennes to qualify for the Champions League for the first time, but they have taken just one point from their first two group games, a 1-1 draw at home to Russians Krasnodar being followed by a 1-0 loss away to Sevilla in midweek.

They face Chelsea in London on Wednesday, a game which will be missed by teenage French international midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who is injured.

The 17-year-old was missing against Brest, who went in front 11 minutes into the second half as Honorat pounced to fire home after an error by Aguerd.

However captain Da Silva headed in a Romain Del Castillo free-kick to restore parity in the 66th minute and his fellow centre-back Aguerd, the Moroccan international, headed in at a corner four minutes later to complete the turnaround.

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