Monaco Crush Rennes to End Ligue 1 Winless Run
AS Monaco delivered a statement performance against Rennes, cruising to a dominant win that finally ended their Ligue 1 drought.
Monaco set the tone from the opening whistle
With pressure mounting, AS Monaco came out sharp and assertive at the Stade Louis II. From the opening minutes, the hosts dictated the tempo with quick ball movement, high pressing and constant attacking intent that left Rennes struggling to settle.
The first major warning came through Denis Zakaria, whose well-struck effort clipped the post after a slick exchange with Aleksandr Golovin. Monaco were firmly in control, and the breakthrough felt inevitable.
Fati breaks the deadlock and sparks Monaco’s surge
The opening goal arrived in the 33rd minute. Folarin Balogun slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the box and Ansu Fati, brimming with confidence, finished across goal between the legs of Brice Samba to make it 1-0.
The goal reflected Monaco’s dominance. Solid at the back, composed in midfield and creative going forward, the hosts kept Rennes at arm’s length, with Philipp Köhn largely untroubled before the break.
Monaco turn control into a commanding lead
The second half could not have started better for the Principality side. Just five minutes after the restart, a fortunate rebound fell kindly for Maghnes Akliouche, who calmly tapped into an empty net to double the advantage.
Momentum stayed firmly with Monaco, and on the hour mark, Soungoutou Magassa Coulibaly raced through on goal after a clever pass from Biereth and finished low with his left foot to make it 3-0, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt.
Rennes run out of answers as Monaco complete the rout
Rennes briefly thought they had pulled a goal back, but VAR intervened to rule it out for offside, a decision that deflated any remaining hope of a comeback.
Late on, Monaco added gloss to the scoreline. In the 89th minute, Idumbo met a cross from the right, and although his finish was not clean, it was enough to beat Samba and seal the 4-0 victory.
A confidence-boosting night in the Principality
The emphatic win brings relief for AS Monaco, who end a five-match Ligue 1 winless streak, climb to 27 points and sit 10th in the table, restoring belief at a crucial point in the season.
For Rennes, the outlook is less encouraging. They remain sixth on 31 points, but the result extends their run to three consecutive league matches without a win, adding pressure in the race for European qualification.
A dominant, much-needed performance from Monaco, who rediscovered their bite just when they needed it most.
