Five-star Rennes continue European hunt with Ajaccio mauling
Rennes were in desperate need of securing back-to-back Ligue 1 victories for just the second time since October, with already relegated Ajaccio proving the perfect opposition.
The hosts had conceded first in more league games than any other team in Europe’s top five league, and rather inevitably they fell to that fate once more as Rennes raced into the lead. Baptiste Santamaria swept Lovro Majer’s cutback across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to hand the visitors a deserved advantage.
The visitors continued to dominate possession and looked in complete control of the game, doubling their lead on the half-hour mark through Amine Gouiri. The goal came courtesy of Karl Toko-Ekambi as the Cameroon international skipped past his man before putting a pinpoint cross into the box for Gouiri to send his header into the top corner.
Bruno Genesio’s men would net twice more before the break in a rampant first-half display, with Belgian international Jeremy Doku capping a sensational solo run from the halfway line with a drilled strike into the bottom corner.
Gouiri doubled his individual tally five minutes before the interval to cap off a truly miserable 45 minutes for Ajaccio who were already begging for the final whistle.
Ajaccio managed to hold their visitors at arm's length for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but things got worse for the home side when Mickael Alphonse saw his foul on Doku earn him a straight red card after a VAR review.
Rennes inflicted more damage on their opponents 10 minutes later, as Gouiri completed his hat-trick with a beautifully crafted goal which saw him send the keeper the wrong way.
Rennes seemed content with their five-goal cushion and saw the game out with ease as they kept their European hopes alive ahead of a huge clash with rivals Monaco next weekend. While there’s plenty riding on that clash, Ajaccio are waiting for the season to end with an 11-match winless run in the league proving a miserable way to bow out of the top flight.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Amine Gouiri (Rennes)