Alou Diarra and Fernando Menegazzo scored in each half on Saturday to lead Bordeaux over Rennes 2-0 in the French league.
Brazilian midfielder Wendel created both goals from corners.
Diarra scored with a volley in the 18th minute and Menegazzo sealed the win with a looping header in the 83rd.
PHOTO: AFP
The win moved Bordeaux closer to securing an automatic place in next season’s Champions League, while the defeat snapped a six-match unbeaten run for Rennes, which missed a chance to level when Mickael Pagis shot wide in the 63rd.
Bordeaux has 61 points after 32 rounds, and Rennes has 44 points.
French league leader Lyon, which was to play at Marseille yesterday, has 67 points.
At Saint-Etienne, former Liverpool striker Anthony Le Tallec put Le Mans ahead in the 32nd, before midfielder Geoffrey Dernis scored twice in the 42nd and 63rd and also set up Bafetimbi Gomis for his 11th goal of the season in the 56th.
Guinea captain Pascal Feindouno completed Saint-Etienne’s win with his seventh goal of the season in the 86th.
Damien Perquis got Sochaux’s winner in the 44th, and Tunisia forward Issam Jemaa grabbed Caen’s only goal in the 20th.
At struggling Strasbourg, Monaco’s Nene collected a headed pass from Frederic Piquionne and lobbed goalkeeper Stephane Cassard in the 67th. Fabio Santos added another in the 83rd to give Monaco a much-needed win and put Strasbourg into 19th spot.
At Lens, veteran winger Olivier Monterrubio scored with a penalty in the 32nd, but Metz dealt Lens a blow when Miralem Pjanic equalized in the last minute.
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Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
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