Rennes travelled to Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for their Ligue 1 clash with Saint-Etienne on Friday, having won four games on the trot.
However, strikes from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Renaud Cohade saw the hosts bag maximum points with a 2-0 victory.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Ligue 1 game between Saint-Etienne and Rennes from Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. This is a clash between teams looking to maintain their European ambitions and it promises to be an interesting affair indeed.
Heading into tonight's encounter, St-Etienne find themselves 10th in the league standings with 12 points from nine matches, while their visitors Rennes are a point and a place above them.
Rennes will be slight favourites in this game, as they are on a run of four successive wins.
St-Etienne Starting Lineup: Ruffier, Mignot, Brison, Perrin, Clerc, Clement, Aubameyang, Gradel, Guilavogui, Cohade, Brandao
Rennes Starting Lineup: Costil, Catherine, Biyik, Jebbour, Boye, Pitroipa, Makoun, Pajot, Danze, Feret, Erding
We are 10 minutes away from kickoff...
The two sets of players are now on the pitch, as the game will kick off in a matter of minutes...
And here we start, with St-Etienne kicking off proceedings...
The home side are on the attack straight away, as Max-Alain Gradel is brought down just outside the penalty box.
Jonathan Brison takes the free kick with his left foot, but it goes off target.
St-Etienne passing the ball around in the midfield at the moment. The hosts have made the brighter start of the two teams.
Rennes try to create a chance down the middle but it is easily smothers. St-Etienne then go on the counterattack, as Max-Alain Gradel gets the ball on the left but he fails to cut inside.
Brandao has been quiet so far in this match, as the hosts earn a corner.
The corner is floated in, but Benoit Costil intercepts it, and then begins a Rennes counterattack. Jonathan Pitroipa takes a shot from outside the penalty area, but it is easily claimed by Stephane Ruffier.
Free kick to Rennes from near the touchline. It is floated in, but Ruffier collects the ball with ease. Still 0-0 between St-Etienne and Rennes.
Rennes on the attack now, as they march down the left flank. A lovely cross is floated in but Ruffier is alert to it.
15 minutes gone in this Ligue 1 encounter and goalless it remains.
CHANCE!!! Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goes agonisingly close for St-Etienne as he gets the better of Jean Kana Biyik, and takes his shot from close range. It just goes wide of the near post.
CHANCE! Julien Feret shoots at goal from outside the box but Ruffier makes a good save.
GOAL! St-Etienne take the lead after 21 minutes at home! Max-Alain Gradel drills in a low cross inside the Rennes penalty area that Aubameyang shoots home from close range.
On the balance of play, I would say that that goal was deserved. Aubameyang had gone close to scoring just minutes ago.
Free kick to the home side but they fail to create anything productive from it, as Costil collects the ball with ease.
Another free kick to St-Etienne from 25 yards. Aubameyang takes it but fails to get it into the Rennes goal.
Ruffier makes a great save from a Feret free kick, fisting it away from danger.
Half an hour gone in this match and it is 1-0 to Saint-Etienne.
Romain Danze takes an attempt on the St-Etienne goal after threading his way through the middle, but it is hit straight at Ruffier.
Rennes coming on strong in the last few minutes, as they are using the flanks to weave their attack. A cross is now floated in from the right wing, but Ruffier claims it with ease.
OH! St-Etienne come agonisingly close to making it 2-0, as Gradel?s attempt from close range on the Rennes is blocked and eventually cleared away.
The celebration of Aubameyang after he scored the goal was brilliant. He put on a Spiderman mask and pretended to shoot spider-webs from his fingers. It was hilarious and brilliant!
Five minutes left to half-time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, as St-Etienne lead Rennes 1-0.
I have not seen much of star St-Etienne striker Brandao tonight, to be honest. He has been unusually quiet this evening.
The home side are pressing on in these final minutes of the first-half, and looking to double their advantage.
Chance for Rennes as Danze shoots from the left side of the penalty area, but he fails to trouble Ruffier.
The referee blows the whistle for the half-time interval. It is 1-0 to St-Etienne at the moment, thanks to a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 21st minute.
The second-half action is about to start as the two sets of players are coming on to the pitch.
And here we start with the second-half action...
Rennes have made a positive start to the second-half, as Feret makes an attempt from outside the box but it is blocked.
GOAL! St-Etienne double their advantage and make it 2-0. Renaud Cohade receives a loose ball outside the penalty area and volleys home brilliantly.
St-Etienne have surely have done enough to bag maximum points in this game. 2-0 up after 50 minutes... Rennes do have a huge task on their hand now.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION. Rennes make a quick double substitution. Romain Alessandrini replaces Vincent Pajot and Dimitri Foulquier replaces Yassine Jebbour.
Rennes are not giving it up yet, as a shot is drilled in from distance but Ruffier makes a comfortable save.
Ten minutes gone in the second half and St-Etienne lead Rennes 2-0. The visitors would have to stage a really dramatic comeback in the next 35 minutes.
YELLOW CARD. John Boye becomes the second player in the game to get booked for a challenge on Cohade. Vincent Pajot was the first player to be shown the yellow card ? that was in the 26th minute.
St-Etienne appear to have taken their foot off the gas slightly.
ST-ETIENNE!!! What a chance to go 3-0 up! Aubameyang is sent through on goal from the midfield and he shoots at goal, but his attempt is saved.
This has been another brilliant Ligue 1 match to watch so far. There have been goals, some decent tricks, some good attempts, pace, enthusiasm ? very entertaining thus far.
Free kick to the visitors from outside the penalty area, but Alessandrini fails to get his shot past the wall.
SUBSTITUTION Diallo comes on for Feret for Rennes.
CHANCE! Alessandrini volleys first-time but it is straight at the goalkeeper! That was a great attempt on goal, a brilliant attempt.
SUBSTITUTION Romain Hamouma comes on for Brandao for St-Etienne.
St-Etienne seem to be looking to make another change as we move towards the 75th minute mark.
Free kick to Rennes from a dangerous position. Alessandrini will take this one... He swings it with his left foot, and, oh! Mevlut Erding gets a slight touch to it but not enough to take it past Ruffier. 2-0 it remains to St-Etienne.
SUBSTITUTION Fabian Lemoine comes on for Renaud Cohade.
Corner for Rennes is swung in and Diallo heads towards goal, but he fails to keep it on target.
Ten minutes remain in this game, St-Etienne look assuredly on their way to a 2-0 victory.
Rennes are passing around the ball at the moment, but failing to make any penetration.
THE BAR! St-Etienne come close yet again, as Hamouma cuts inside from the left side of the penalty area and shoots at goal, but sees his shot come off the crossbar.
SUBSTITUTION Faouzi Ghoulam comes on for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Long-range effort there from Diallo there, but it goes over the crossbar.
Four minutes of injury time have been awarded by the fourth official.
RED CARD. Mevlut Erding has been sent off for violent conduct. Rennes are now down to 10 men.
It is all over at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as Saint-Etienne have defeated Rennes 2-0 in Ligue 1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put the home side the lead in the 21st minute and Renaud Cohade doubled the advantage four minutes into the second half.
I hope that you enjoyed our live coverage of this Ligue 1 clash here on Sports Mole. Have a good night and it is goodbye from me for now.
Written by
Subhankar Mondal
Subhankar Mondal
