Multiplex: Rennes into the top four and more
An action-packed multiplex saw Rennes steal a march in the race for the Champions League, Nantes boost their survival hopes and more. Get the latest from around Ligue 1 McDonald's with our multiplex roundup.
RC Strasbourg 0-3 Stade Rennais
In a match played between a European quarterfinal and a Coupe de France semifinal, Gary O'Neil heavily rotated his side, handing a trio of youngsters debuts over the course of the match. Against a Rennes side who have been in form under Franck Haise and were looking to take advantage by stumbles from Lille, Monaco and Marseille, the hosts were no match. Esteban Lepaul, the league's top scorer, netted the first of the match on 20 minutes after Racing struggled to clear, finding the bottom corner with a clinical finish.
Into the second half, Breel Embolo and Musa Al-Tamaari each scored within a three-minute span to seal the result. While Racing would have some chances, including Martial Godo hitting the post, it was clear they were second-best. With the win, the Bretons are now a provisional fourth ahead of Lyon's trip to the Parc des Princes tonight.
🔴 Huge win on the road
⚫️ 4 consecutive matches unbeaten
🔴 Currently 4th in Ligue 1
⚫️ STADE RENNAIS pic.twitter.com/kE3BD4RmoC— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 19, 2026
Stade Brestois 1-1 FC Nantes
In Brittany, defender Brendan Chardonnet scored in second half stoppage time to deny ten-man Nantes what would have been a vital three points. The visitors had started this derby encounter the brighter and Mostafa Mohamed opened the scoring with a fine curling effort on ten minutes, but after Dehmaine Tabibou was sent off midway trhought the second half, the match titled toward the hosts. Brest's pressure would finally tell as Chardonnet headed from a set piece, denying Nantes the chance to move within three points of Auxerre.
Ilan Kebbal. Baller. 🇩🇿🔟 pic.twitter.com/DEp7N3EZi7
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 19, 2026
FC Metz 1-3 Paris FC
Finally, in Metz, the hosts were undone by the in-form capital side, leaving them with only the slimmest chance of avoiding the drop. Alimami Gory opened the scoring on 21 minutes before Giorgi Kvilitaia's stunning strike ten minutes later, leaving the match level at the break. Paris FC would score twice in the second half, though, with Ilan Kebbal and Otavio both netting to improve Paris FC's unbeaten record under Antoine Kombouaré to four wins and three draws in seven matches.
