Rennes secured a late 2-1 victory over Nantes in a tense Ligue 1 encounter, with Valentin Rongier striking deep into stoppage time to seal all three points.
The hosts made a bright start, taking the lead as early as the eighth minute when Estéban Lepaul calmly converted from the penalty spot.
Nantes responded well and drew level five minutes before the break, as Ignatius Kpene Ganago found the back of the net to make it 1-1 at halftime.
Rennes thought they had restored their advantage in the 59th minute through Lepaul once again, but VAR intervened to rule out the effort.
Despite controlling possession with 62.8% and completing 84.8% of their passes, the home side struggled to create as many chances as their opponents.
Nantes looked the more threatening side overall, registering 24 attempts with eight on target compared to Rennes’ 14 shots. Johann Lepenant was particularly influential, creating seven chances and delivering five accurate crosses to keep the pressure on the hosts.
However, just as the game seemed headed for a draw, Rongier struck in the second minute of stoppage time to hand Rennes a dramatic win.
Lepaul’s early goal means he remains Ligue 1’s top scorer this season with 18 goals. Rennes will next travel to Lyon, while Nantes return home to face Marseille.
