Recap: Rennes Beat ASSE to Win Second Straight Under Habib Beye

Stade Rennais have won their second straight match under new manager Habib Beye following their 2-0 win over AS Saint-Étienne on Saturday night at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Rennes were the more dominant team in the first half, registering nine shots in total and breaking the deadlock with an early goal.

In the 15th minute, Lorenz Assignon won the ball high up the pitch, drove forward, and delivered a cross from the right. Arnaud Kalimuendo made a smart run to the far post, getting ahead of Dennis Appiah to finish the play with a goal.

Beye and his team went into halftime holding a 1-0 advantage and the contest remained that way for most of the final 45 minutes. Rennes found the insurance goal they needed to secure all three points in the 85th minute from a substitution.

Kazeem Olaigbe beat his defender on the left side of the box and set up Adrien Truffert. The full-back's shot was deflected, but Mahamadou Nagida, who had just come on in the 84th minute, was in the right place at the far post to tap it in, giving Rennes a two-goal lead and the eventual victory.

The loss adds more to Saint-Étienne's struggles as Les Verts have extended their winless streak to five matches. Eirik Horneland and his team currently occupy the playoff relegation spot (18 points, -26 goal differential) and one point above 17th place Le Havre.

Saint-Étienne could end the weekend in the direct relegation zone if Montpellier Hérault SC (15 points, -26 goal differential) beat RC Strasbourg on Sunday and improve their goal difference to gain the tiebreaker.

After the match, Florian Tardieu spoke to DAZN and acknowledged the urgency to end their winless streak and start picking up points as they face a tough relegation battle.

"The supporters are right. They come to the stadium and give their all... We need to do the same. Staying up will depend on that. They’re spot on. We control the ball well, create situations, but we’re not turning them into real chances. We need to improve in both boxes. Every time we lose the ball, we end up conceding. We’ve got to work harder."

The Stat: Habib Beye's terrific start at Stade Rennais

As Saint-Étienne search for answers, Rennes have found theirs with their new manager. Beye became the third manager to win his two first matches on the bench with Rennes in Ligue 1 McDonald's after Kalman Szekany in 1932 and Julien Stéphan in 2018.

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