Valentin Rongier delivered a commanding midfield display as Rennes secured a 2-1 victory over Angers at the Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday.
The French midfielder controlled the tempo from the base of Rennes’ midfield, consistently linking defence with attack and helping his side maintain pressure on the hosts.
Rongier came close to creating the opening goal in first-half stoppage time when he slipped a well-timed pass into the path of Estéban Lepaul.
The forward raced into the right channel, but Angers goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was equal to the effort.
After the restart, Rongier again showed his quality by quickly initiating a counter-attack that ended with Lepaul testing Lopes from distance.
The 31-year-old completed 72 of his 77 passes and recorded a team-high 24 passes into the final third.
He also made six recoveries and four tackles as Rennes maintained control of the contest.
Playing as the lone defensive midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Rongier repeatedly provided an outlet for his teammates while breaking through Angers’ defensive lines with his passing.
His performance proved crucial as Rennes held on for three points that moved them up to fourth place with seven points from their opening matches.
Rennes remain unbeaten and will next welcome Marseille, while Angers travel to face Le Havre in their next Ligue 1 fixture.
