On Saturday, Rennes narrowly defeated Brest in a thrilling encounter that saw the home team secure a clean sheet thanks to a penalty scored by their talismanic forward, Anthony Martial.
The match kicked off with both teams displaying a high level of intensity and determination as they looked to establish themselves at the top of the Ligue 1 table. However, it was Rennes who took the lead early on when Anthony Martial slotted home from close range after being given space and time to take his shot.
Brest responded quickly, however, and managed to equalize through a well-taken goal from substitute midfielder, Thomas Foytha. The visitors then had a golden opportunity to go ahead in the second half but were denied by a fine save from Rennes goalkeeper, Benjamin Kaboré.
As the game went into stoppage time, tensions rose as both sides looked to seal victory. And it was Rennes who finally broke the deadlock in the 94th minute, with Anthony Martial stepping up to convert from the spot following a foul on the striker by Brest's defender.
The win means that Rennes remain in third place in the league standings, just one point behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain. The victory also sees them keep their unbeaten record intact this season, having now won four games in a row.
For Anthony Martial, it was another standout performance for the French international, who has been in sensational form since returning from injury earlier in the season. His late penalty strike ensured that Rennes could hold on for the three points and move closer to securing a top-four finish.
Overall, it was a closely fought encounter that saw both teams put in a valiant effort to claim all three points. It will be interesting to see how Rennes fare against stronger opposition in the coming weeks, while Brest will look to bounce back and regroup before the next fixture.