Rennes break into top five with win over Metz

Rennes left Saint-Symphorien with a fourth consecutive victory and a clear step forward in the table. A single goal from Valentin Rongier, his first since arriving in Brittany, was enough to beat Metz (0–1) and move Habib Beye’s side into the top five at the end of a match they controlled early and defended late.

The visitors started with far more certainty. Embolo had the first chance with a powerful header just wide, then Rongier found the post, followed moments later by a Cissé corner that struck the upright again. Rennes were sharper in the duels and quicker between the lines; the opening goal reflected that trend. Embolo held off his marker in the box and laid the ball back for Rongier, who struck cleanly across Fischer on 22 minutes. Logical at that point.

Metz only began to threaten once the urgency of the scoreline caught up to them. Asoro replaced Sabaly early through injury and later thought he had equalised shortly after the restart, but the offside flag appeared immediately. Saïd, and Ballo-Touré tried to open wide areas, yet Rennes stood relatively firm for most of the second half without offering much going forward. Beye made changes to bring fresh legs but the match remained tight, with Rennes increasingly managing the clock rather than the ball.

The final minutes were more tense. Metz pushed, crosses multiplied, and Brice Samba saved Rennes three times in stoppage time, first against Asoro, then Malick, and finally with a firm punch on a heavy strike from Abuashvili. That was the difference between one point and three.

THE STAT:

Valentin Rongier scored his third Ligue 1 McDonald's goal in 2025, his first with Rennes, equalling his highest tally in a single calendar year (3 in 2019). He has scored three goals against Metz in Ligue 1, at least two more than against any other team.