Saint-Etienne (AFP)

Too strong for the Greens, Rennes took the lead in Ligue 1 by putting an end to the invincibility of Saint-Etienne (3-0) on Saturday at the end of a summit of the 5th day totally controlled in a "Cauldron "without spectators.

Nayef Aguerd (33rd), Serhou Guirassy (52nd) and Adrien Hunou (89th) knocked out Claude Puel's men under the eyes of the only VIPs allowed in the boxes of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.

With this fourth consecutive victory, Stade Rennes are on the top step of the L1 podium, with the assurance of not being dislodged by the end of the weekend.

The Bretons are two lengths ahead of Lille (2nd), which beat Nantes on Friday (2-0), and three over ASSE (3rd).

It is central defender Nayef Aguerd, recruited a few weeks ago in Dijon, who victoriously headed a corner played from the right by Benjamin Bourigeaud (33rd) for his second goal of the season.

At the start of the second half, Guirassy then increased the score to 2-0 by acrobatically resuming a cross delivered from the right wing by Romain Del Castillo and on which defender Harold Moukoudi hesitated (52nd).

After a double in Nîmes, Guirassy scored his third goal this season in his new colors since his arrival from Amiens.

It is even his seventh out of his last seven starts in Ligue 1!

- Goal denied at Saint-Etienne -

Previously, the Bretons, already winners of the Greens in August in the pre-season (3-0), were threatening on a good shot from Guirassy deflected by goalkeeper Jessy Moulin (30th) who had also easily stopped an attempt by Del Castillo (28th).

In the last minutes, Hunou anticipated the exit of Moulin with a subtle lob and added a third goal shortly after coming into play (89th).

Overall, Rennes despite the absences of M'Baye Niang on the start, Faitout Maouassa and defender Adrien Truffert, tested positive for Covid-19, displayed with a domineering environment more maturity and serenity in his game than Saint-Etienne, a tone below with many novice players in Ligue 1.

The Bretons were also realistic because they did not have a plethora of chances.

For their part, the Stéphanois may however regret a goal, logically refused to Arnaud Nordin for offside after a good shot from Yvann Maçon released by goalkeeper Romain Salin (47th).

They could also have been awarded a penalty for a foul by Aguerd on Nordin without the referee, Benoît Bastien, nor the video appearing (51st).

But for the rest the Saint-Etienne team was quite timid offensively despite the efforts of the young Adil Aouchiche (18), who in particular offered a great opportunity to Denis Bouanga, out of the shot the whole match, who failed to convert this opportunity in goal, hesitating between the center and the shot (20th).

After half-time, Timothée Kolodziejczak, from the head, was also very dangerous but Salin stopped the attempt of the Stéphanois (64th) just like Jean-Philippe Krasso on a corner (65th) but this time, the bar has been too high for ASSE.

© 2020 AFP