The victory took time to take shape and the score may seem narrow for the Rennes goleadors who had defeated the Greens 5-0 in December in Saint-Etienne and had just punished Lorient with the same score.

But no matter: for the first time in their history, the Rennais recorded a 19th victory in a season and reached 62 points, surpassing their 2009 record (18 victories and 61 points).

Even if the end of the championship promises to be tough for the men of Bruno Genesio (Nantes, Marseille and Lille), they thus give themselves a little air on their pursuers before Sunday's matches.

Saint-Etienne, however, remains 18th and a virtual roadblocker with 31 points, only 4 lengths ahead of Bordeaux (19th, 27 pts) and still 2 points behind Clermont and Troyes, who will play on Sunday.

In front of a full Roazhon Park, the Rennais quickly took control of the ball and set up some interesting combinations.

Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni intervenes in front of Rennes midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud, during the 35th day of Ligue 1, April 30, 2022 at Roazhon Park Loic VENANCE AFP

But lack of precision in the last gestures, they were slow to show themselves dangerous, well countered by a block from Stéphane for once disciplined and by a courageous Paul Bernardoni in the feet of Gaëtan Laborde (19th).

The Greens even got the first real chance, on a counter launched by Denis Bouanga and concluded with a shot from Adil Aouchiche deflected by Dogan Alemdar (39th).

The opener came just after, on a long ball badly repelled by Eliaquim Mangala: served by Martin Terrier, Lovro Majer controlled from the chest and took Bernardoni on the wrong foot (1-0, 41st).

This did not free up more space, however, and the Rennais, less dominating in the second half and still as little successful in front of goal, even scared themselves when Arnaud Nordin found himself alone against Alemdar.

But the very young Turkish goalkeeper held the shock (48th).

And it was again Majer, poison of the Stéphanois throughout the match, who delivered his people by resuming at full speed from the penalty spot a bad interception from Mangala (2-0, 84th).

In their quest for Europe or maintenance, Rennais like Stéphanois now have 10 days to wait before each going to challenge a finalist in the Coupe de France: Nantes for the Rouge et Noir, Nice for Saint-Etienne.

© 2022 AFP