Rennes kept pace in the race for Champions League places by beating Lorient 5-0 to reclaim third place in the French league on Sunday.
Benjamin Bourigeaud opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a half-volley into the roof of the net.
Martin Terrier doubled the lead with a fine finish two minutes later to score his 21st league goal, one behind top scorer Kylian Mbappe.
Rennes captain Hamari Traoré made it 3-0 by heading in a cross from Bourigeaud in the 47th minute.
One of the league’s most underrated players, Bourigeaud is enjoying a career season with nine goals and 12 assists.
The hosts were reduced to ten men in the 58th minute when Nayef Aguerd was sent off for a foul on Lorient striker Armand Lauriente, who raced on goal.
Flavien Tait increased the lead with a deflected long shot in the 79th before Gaetan Laborde took advantage of a counter-attack to seal the victory in stoppage time.
Rennes are level on points with Monaco and trail second-placed Marseille by three points.
France’s top two clubs enter the Champions League group stage while the third-placed side advance to the third qualifying round of the lucrative European competition.
Lorient remained three points above the relegation zone.
The 34th round ends later on Sunday with Reims v Marseille, Lille v Strasbourg, Nice v Troyes, Nantes v Bordeaux, Metz v Brest and Clermont v Angers.
Runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain clinched a record 10th league title by drawing with Lens 1-1 on Saturday.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Comments are closed.