Paris (AFP) – Rennes moved above Marseille into second place in Ligue 1 on Saturday as a 3-2 victory at Reims boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Bruno Genesio’s men are in front of Marseille, who host Montpellier on Sunday, on goal difference but sit 12 points behind runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
The top two qualify automatically for next season’s Champions League group stage, with the third-placed side heading into the qualifying rounds.
Rennes have won six of their last seven league games to surge into contention, as Nice have slipped from the top three to fifth place after a poor run of results.
On Saturday, Benjamin Bourigeaud netted twice in four first-half minutes to give Rennes a two-goal half-time lead.
Martin Terrier made it 3-0 before the hour mark.
Rennes held on despite a late Reims rally with goals from Maxime Busi and Jens-Lys Cajuste, who netted a penalty just three minutes after his team-mate Moussa Doumbia had missed one.
Later on Saturday, PSG visit relegation-threatened Clermont.
