Rennes Beat Nantes 2-1 in Ligue 1 Derby Thriller: Watch Recap

📌 Quick Match Recap

• Final Score: Stade Rennais 2 - 1 FC Nantes

• Venue: Roazhon Park, Rennes

• Date: April 18, 2025

• Competition: Ligue 1, France

🥅 Goalscorers:

• Adrien Truffert (Rennes) – 23'

• Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes) – 54'

• Mohamed Meïté (Rennes) – 86'

🔍 First Half: Early Pressure and a Rare Penalty Twist

Stade Rennais started with intent, controlling possession and pressing high. The first major talking point came in the 15th minute when Arnaud Kalimuendo stepped up to take a penalty after a handball inside the box. However, the goal was disallowed after VAR intervention — Kalimuendo's foot unintentionally touched the ball twice, a rarely enforced rule that nullifies the attempt.

Despite the setback, Rennes maintained pressure and got their reward in the 23rd minute through a well-placed shot from Adrien Truffert, who capitalized on a defensive error to slot home the opener.

🟨 Second Half: Nantes Strike Back, but Rennes Keep Their Cool

FC Nantes came out stronger after the break. Their persistence paid off when Mostafa Mohamed equalized with a neat finish in the 54th minute, punishing Rennes for a brief lapse in concentration.

The match saw its fair share of tactical fouls and yellow cards, with Nantes picking up 5 bookings compared to Rennes’ 3.

⚡ The Decisive Moment: Meïté Seals It Late

As the clock ticked towards full-time, Rennes upped the tempo. Their dominance in possession (65.5%) and total shots (19) eventually led to the breakthrough. In the 86th minute, substitute Mohamed Meïté scored the winning goal with a clinical finish following a slick one-two pass inside the box.

The Roazhon Park erupted as Rennes sealed a vital three points in front of their home fans.

📊 Match Stats at a Glance:

👨‍💼 Tactical Insight: Habib Beye’s Derby Debut Shines

This was Habib Beye’s first derby since taking over as Rennes’ head coach on January 30, 2025. His approach — built on high pressing and possession-based play — has been widely praised. With this win, Beye’s record continues to improve, and fans are starting to believe in Rennes' top-four ambitions again.

“Beye’s philosophy is clear — aggressive, yet controlled football. This derby win will only fuel momentum,” said Ligue 1 analyst Jérôme Rothen.

🧠 What This Win Means for Rennes:

• Keeps them in contention for European spots

• Establishes Beye’s dominance in high-pressure fixtures

• Boosts squad morale after mixed results in March