Rennes stay second after lively draw with Lyon

Rennes missed out on top spot but moved to within a point of French first division leaders Brest after an engaging 1-1 draw at home to Lyon on Saturday.

Goals in either half from Jires Kembo Ekoko, for the hosts, and Michel Bastos ensured that a well-contested encounter finished all-square, allowing Rennes to hold onto second spot and keeping Lyon in 10th place.

Lyon had lost 4-3 at Benfica in the Champions League in mid-week and Rennes flew at Claude Puel’s side from the whistle, no doubt seeking to exploit any lingering fragility.

Visiting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had already saved from Stephane Dalmat and Alexander Tettey when Kembo Ekoko broke the deadlock in the fourth minute.

The 22-year-old forward picked Kim Kallstrom’s pocket on the Lyon left and exchanged passes with Victor Hugo Montano before impudently poking the ball around Cris and finishing into the bottom-left corner.

In response, Bafetimbi Gomis drew a fine save from Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez with a clipped volley, but Romain Danze, Rod Fanni and Dalmat all came within inches of doubling Rennes’ advantage.

Kallstrom struck Douchez’s right-hand post with a long-range effort in first-half injury time and Rennes’ goal survived only eight minutes of the second half before Lyon levelled.

Kevin Theophile-Catherine was penalised for a foul on Gomis and Bastos blasted the ensuing free-kick into the top-left corner with the help of a slight deflection off Dalmat.

Lloris parried a Sylvain Marveaux effort as Rennes sought to re-assert their authority, but it was the visitors who came closest to taking all three points with a sweet Miralem Pjanic drive that whistled inches wide.

“We had a very good start but we let our level drop and that’s what cost us the goal,” Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila told Orange Sport.

“Looking at the start of the match, it’s two points lost. Looking at the end, it’s a point won.”

Earlier, former table-toppers Saint-Etienne fell to fifth place after losing 2-1 at home to Lorient.

The hosts began strongly, with Gonzalo Bergessio seeing a goal ruled out for offside, before Kevin Gameiro cut in from the right and fired between the legs of Jeremie Janot to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute.

Christophe Galtier introduced Bakary Sako at half-time for Saint-Etienne and the substitute made a speedy impact, cantering onto a ball over the top and shooting crisply into the bottom-right corner to level the scores.

Gameiro had the final word, however, meeting Morgan Amalfitano’s cross with a firm header in the 82nd minute to send the Brittany side up to seventh and consign Saint-Etienne to their first home defeat of the campaign.

“People laughed when we were talking about staying up but we could find ourselves in danger very quickly,” said Saint-Etienne coach Galtier, whose side have now gone five games without a win.

“In the attitude and the mental weakness we saw tonight, there’s reason to be worried.”

Moussa Maazou claimed his first Bordeaux goal with an 86th-minute strike that earned Les Girondins a 1-1 draw at home to Valenciennes, who had held the lead since the 18th minute after David Ducourtioux’s opener.

Bottom club Arles-Avignon claimed their first victory of the season, at the 12th attempt, with a 3-2 win at home to fellow promoted side Caen.

“It’s good for morale and I dedicate this victory to everyone who works for the club and the supporters,” said Arles coach Faruk Hadzibegic, whose team are now eight points from safety.

Auxerre, 2-1 victors at home to Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, were held to a 1-1 draw at Sochaux.

Brest visit Lille on Sunday, when champions Marseille travel to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain for the first ‘clasico’ of the season.