Lyon move into third with 4-2 win over Rennes in Ligue 1

PARIS: Lyon strengthened their push for Ligue 1's final Champions League qualification place with a 4-2 victory over Rennes on Sunday, a result sealed by a goal from Endrick.

The win moved Lyon into third place, behind Paris Saint-Germain and Lens, in the race for the prized third Champions League berth. PSG, the defending champions, have 70 points and Lens 64, with both sides having three matches left to play. Lyon are on 60 points, while Lille sit two points behind them and Rennes are another two points back, with those three clubs having two games remaining.

Rennes went ahead early in the match in Lyon through Musa Al-Tamari. The home side then turned the game around before the break, with Roman Yaremchuk scoring and Corentin Tolisso converting a penalty to give Lyon a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Rennes drew level soon after the restart when Esteban Lepaul found the net. Lyon responded again, however, with Afonso Moreira restoring their advantage before Endrick added the fourth with a classy finish to complete the 4-2 result.

The Brazilian teenager has impressed for Lyon and has worked his way into Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup plans since joining the French club on loan from Real Madrid.

Lyon's rise has come after a difficult period for the seven-time French champions. The club had been close to bankruptcy 10 months ago and sold several leading players to avoid relegation on appeal.

Other Ligue 1 results

Elsewhere, Strasbourg lost 2-1 at home to Toulouse after naming a second-string side, with their focus on next Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Rayo Vallecano. Strasbourg trail 1-0 from the first leg and remain eighth in the league, with hopes of reaching the final of Europe's third-tier club competition.

For Toulouse, the result ended a five-match wait for a win, while both teams are heading toward a mid-table finish.

Lille, who are also chasing Champions League qualification, were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Le Havre, a result that left an opening for Lyon to move ahead of them on points.

Paris FC recorded a 4-0 win over Brest, while Auxerre boosted their battle against relegation with a 3-1 home victory over Angers.

With only a handful of matches left, the contest for third place remains tight, but Lyon's win over Rennes has given them an advantage over their direct rivals in the closing stretch of the season.