Paul-Georges Ntep and Giovanni Sio scored as second-placed Stade Rennais won 2-0 at Nantes in a hot-tempered Brittany derby to close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Nantes finished with nine men after midfielder Adryan Oliveira Tavares was sent off early in the second half and Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson got a straight red for another dangerous tackle in the 77th minute.
In between the red cards, Rennes took the lead when Ntep grabbed his first goal of the season from close range in the 67th minute after goalkeeper Maxime Dupe had saved Abdoulaye Doucoure’s shot.
Photo: AFP
The burly Sio pounced one minute from time with a low shot after running onto Doucoure’s pass for his third goal of the season.
The win gave coach Philippe Montanier’s Rennes side 12 points after five matches.
“No one was expecting us to be in this position,” Ntep said.
Meanwhile, new coach Michel celebrated another resounding home win as Olympique de Marseille thumped SC Bastia 4-1.
Rightback Benjamin Mendy gave Marseille the lead in the 16th minute with a dipping shot from just outside the penalty area that looped over goalkeeper Jesper Hansen and crept in under the crossbar.
After striker Michy Batshuayi missed a good chance for 2-0 just before the interval, winger Romain Alessandrini struck just after the break and then added another, before Batshuayi completed the scoring in the 70th minute.
Spanish coach Michel took charge after Marcelo Bielsa’s shock resignation after the first game of the season and his first home match in charge was a 6-0 rout of ESTAC Troyes. A 2-0 loss at En Avant de Guingamp followed, Marseille’s third defeat of the campaign following a chaotic start.
“We needed the points today in front of our fans,” Batshuayi said. “We played some good football and everyone’s getting better.”
Brazilian striker Brandao, who scored 17 league goals in 82 games for Marseille in a three-year spell, got SC Bastia’s consolation goal.
Earlier, Brazilian defender Fabinho scored a first-half penalty as AS Monaco secured a scrappy 1-0 win away against Corsican side Gazelec Ajaccio.
Fabinho stroked his spot-kick low to the left in the 16th minute after veteran defender David Ducourtioux handled Ivan Cavaleiro’s cross.
“We didn’t play well, but the most important thing was to win,” Monaco centerback Andrea Raggi said. “A lot of players have left the club, but we still have a strong team.”
Monaco were playing their first league game since selling 19-year-old forward Anthony Martial to Manchester United in a deal that could rise to 80 million euros (US$90 million).
Argentine Guido Carrillo replaced him up front, but Monaco lacked creativity and speed in attack for most of the match.
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