Thanks to Benjamin Bourigeaud (25th) and Arnaud Kalimuendo (58th) and despite a goal from Thijs Dallinga (55th), Bruno Genesio's men return to victory after two draws and remain third with 31 points, a record for the club at this stage of the competition.

Above all, they are now four points ahead of their trio of pursuers (Marseille, Monaco and Lorient), who are to play on Sunday.

After losing 3-0 to Lens then 2-0 against Monaco in the past weeks, the Toulousains (12th, 16 pts) tried everything to get at least one point, managing to steal possession from Rennes but without getting enough real occasions.

Manhandled by the inclinations of Toulouse, the Rennais first struggled to approach the goal of Maxime Dupé.

The quick attacks brought the solutions, in particular on a very good collective action, initiated by Bourigeaud, who then sprinted across the diagonal of the field to find himself alone at the far post on a cross from Lovro Majer (1-0, 25th).

Released, the Rennais accelerated but came up against Dupé, who repelled strikes from Martin Terrier (27th), Amine Gouiri (35th), Majer (52nd) and Adrien Truffert (63rd).

Concern for Moroccan Aboukhlal

Opposite, Toulouse, dangerous, showed too much hesitation and waste up front, like a missed header from Dallinga alone in front of goal (37th).

Striker Arnaud Kalimuendo scored the winning goal for Rennes who received Toulouse, in the 15th day of Ligue 1, November 12, 2022 Lou BENOIST AFP / Archives

The Dutch striker did not miss his second chance, when the ball returned to the box after a corner kick cleared too quickly.

Forgotten by the defense, he equalized with a cross shot (1-1, 55th).

But the Rennais counterattacked and after a strike from Hamari Traoré just above the goal (57th), they regained the advantage.

Nicely shifted by Majer, Terrier saw his strike repelled by Dupé at the feet of Kalimuendo (2-1, 58th).

After the disappointing 1-1 draw against Larnaca in the Europa League and the miraculous one with the same score against Lille in the league, the Rouge et Noir ended their start to the season in style, before sending nearly a dozen players to the World Cup at the Qatar (20 November - 18 December).

In view of the competition, a truce has been decided, postponing the 16th day of Ligue 1 to December 28, where the Bretons will face Reims.

Toulouse striker Zakaria Aboukhlal, selected with Morocco, hopes to go to Qatar, but he left at the break, hit in the thigh.

"It's a bit early" to know if his participation in the World Cup is compromised, commented Toulouse coach Philippe Montanier.

"It's a muscular problem in the thigh. We have to wait for the MRI (magnetic resonance image) to assess the grade of the muscle damage. We hope it will be a small grade 1, not much".

© 2022 AFP