Toulouse vs. Stade Rennes

Early on there was nothing to choose between either side with the battle for midfield dominance leading to some lusty challenges in the centre of the park. From one free-kick on 27 minutes Franck Tabanou sent the ball narrowly over the Rennes' crossbar.

Then, just three minutes later, another free-kick resulted in Toulouse taking the lead. Nicolas Douchez in the Rennes goal failed to gather a set-piece from Paulo Machado and 20-year-old Sissoko pounced for his sixth goal of the season. Eight minutes later Sissoko was nearly on the scoresheet again as Douchez atoned for his earlier error by pulling off a fine save to keep Rennes in the game.

Jires Kembo-Ekoko hooked Tettey's cross wide. But Rennes did not have to wait much longer for an equaliser, Gyan chesting down Bruno Cheyrou's cross and volleying superbly past Blondel.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half as Kembo-Ekoko's corner was headed against the bar by Romain Danze, but Toulouse then regained the lead with two goals in three minutes.

First Douchez's poor clearance was seized upon by Sissoko, who set up Braaten to head home, and then Gignac netted following a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-1 in the 62nd minute.

Braaten almost made it 4-1 on 75 minutes when he just failed to connect with a Cheik Mbengue cross and then, just as everyone thought the game was over, Rennes struck back on 83 minutes with a goal from Senegal's Kader Mangane.

Mangane's header, set up by a cross from Ismael Bangoura after a free-kick was not properly cleared, left Rennes with six minutes to find an equaliser - but they were unable to do so.

The last few minutes were fast and furious as Rennes launched themselves at a jittery Toulouse defence but the home side clung on for a win that had never looked in doubt until the final ten minutes.