Brest seal Europe in nine-goal thriller

On a Ligue 1 Uber Eats weekend that’s already seen plenty of goals, including a tense three-all draw between Paris Saint-Germain and AC Le Havre, it was a Breton derby which upped the stakes, with Stade Brestois winning 5-4 away to Stade Rennais thanks to a last-minute goal by Lilian Brassier. The two sides both entered the match with European ambitions — the visitors would want to keep pace with LOSC Lille in the race for the Champions League, while Rennes could put pressure on RC Lens and Olympique de Marseille before the pair squared off in the last match of the round on Sunday night.

H-3 avant le derby 🔴⚫️#SRFCSB29 pic.twitter.com/tlKfDB38aD

— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) April 28, 2024

There’s never any love lost in a Breton derby, and this match was no exception, with plenty of goals and a fervent atmosphere. This was a fixture that Brest hadn’t won since 2011, and Rennes had won the last three matches at Roazhon Park, but Éric Roy‘s side was undeterred, given they had a chance to edge closer to a historic finish for the club. Things didn’t start promisingly for this season’s surprise package, as Azor Matusiwa slipped in Arnaud Kalimuendo with a fine through ball with less than four minutes gone. It was then again Kalimuendo on the scoresheet five minutes later as the striker took advantage of a miscue from Marco Bizot at the back post to double the lead.

Brest responded almost instantly, though, as Romain Del Castillo‘s wicked ball over the top found Steve Mounié, who scrapped the ball past Steve Mandanda at the second time of asking to reduce the deficit. Neither side was able to have further joy before the interval, with Benjamin Bourigeaud dragging a shot wide on 35 minutes probably the best chance, but it was another story in the second half, as both sides showed their attacking prowess by combining to score an incredible six goals.

5-4 🤯
BREST WINS AT THE LAST SECOND! pic.twitter.com/iUqU0XJkbl

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 28, 2024

An own goal by Warmed Omari just after the break drew Brest level, and it didn’t take them long to take the lead, as Martín Satriano put his side ahead with a rocket header, connecting with a fine cross by Bradley Locko. The bit between their teeth, Brest pushed to increase their lead, and did so thanks to Mahdi Camara, back in the eleven. On a poorly cleared throw-in, the midfielder pounced on the loose ball and rifled the ball into the bottom corner, giving his side a 4-2 lead.

It was far from game over, though, as Rennes, buoyed by their supporters, pulled a goal back just two minutes later, as Arthur Theate scored with what seemed an innocuous effort from outside the area. Lifted by the chance of rescuing a point, Rennes pressed for an equalizer and soon had it through Martin Terrier. The in-form striker smartly nipped across goal to prod home Bourigeaud’s free kick, and with ten minutes to play, it was level again at four-all.

There was one final twist in the plot, though, as Brassier found a winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time, connecting with Mathias Pereira Lage’s free kick to seal a 5-4 victory. The win allowed Brest to move back ahead of Lille and into third, while Rennes dropped to ninth after Lyon squeezed out a shock win over AS Monaco later in the day. Another derby awaits Brest this weekend as they hope to seal their top four place against FC Nantes, while Rennes will hope to inject life into their flagging hopes for Europe against a dangerous FC Metz side.