Rennes continue resurgence with win over Brest
Stade Rennais won for the fifth time in six Ligue 1 McDonald's matches on Saturday, beating Breton rivals Stade Brestois 3-1 at Roazhon Park. Catch up on all the latest with our match report.
BrEST take the initiative
Looking to erase the memory of last weekend's heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, a result that snapped a four-match winning streak, Stade Rennais hosted local rivals Stade Brestois at the Roazhon Park on Saturday afternoon. As for the visitors, they were not to be underestimated, having been on their own three-match winning run. In the final Ligue 1 McDonald's match of 2025 for both sides, each played a strong eleven, with only the suspended Ludovic Ajorque unavailable across the two sides.
Living up to their good form, Brest tested their hosts from the off, with Daouda Guindo forcing a diving save from Brice Samba with the match having barely started (2'). Just a minute later, the French goalkeeper had to be sharp again, tipping a rasping shot by Pathé Mboup around the goal before Kamory Doumbia hit the bar (4'). Brest's pressure finally told on 13 minutes, as Mama Baldé was played in by Doumbia, slotting the ball past Samba for a deserved lead.
Goal + assist today. MOUSA AL-TAMARI. 🇯🇴💯 pic.twitter.com/qAeluYB24Q
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 13, 2025
RENNES RESPOND WITH A QUICKFIRE DOUBLE
Deserved though it was, it wouldn't last long as ten minutes later, the hosts would draw level through Esteban Lepaul, the striker netting his eighth goal of the season for Rennes. After some good pressing by Musa Al-Taamari on the left, the Jordanian squared the ball for Lepaul, who scored a fine first-time finish. Just a minute later, Al-Taamari again but the visitors' defence under pressure, robbing Kenny Lala of the ball and scoring himself to give his team the lead (24').
The second half was rather more devoid of action, but Mboup would again test Samba from range (76') before youngster Kader Meïté made it 3-1 by volleying in a cross by Quentin Merlin with five minutes to play. Having just turned eighteen last month, Meïté scored his third of the season, sealing a win that lifts Habib Beye's side into a provisional fifth place before they face Les Sables Vendée in the Coupe de France next weekend to end 2025. As for Brest, while their winning run came to an end, they're still well clear of the bottom three and will face Avranches on Friday in the Coupe.
The stat: 17
Esteban Lepaul's goal sees him finish 2025 with 17 goals in Ligue 1 McDonald's for the calendar year -- only Mason Greenwood (Olympique de Marseille) has done better.
