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Balogun continues Monaco scoring streak, Rennes boost Champions League hopes / Photo: Valery HACHE - AFP
Balogun continues Monaco scoring streak, Rennes boost Champions League hopes
USA star Folarin Balogun scored in an eighth consecutive Ligue 1 game for Monaco on Sunday but could not stop his side dropping more points in their quest for European qualification, while Rennes won 3-0 at Strasbourg to boost their chances of playing in next season's Champions League.
Former Arsenal striker Balogun, who is set to lead the United States attack for the co-hosts at the World Cup, scored from the penalty spot just before the hour mark but that goal was only enough for Monaco to draw 2-2 with relegation-threatened Auxerre.
The visitors had been two goals ahead at the break in the principality thanks to strikes by Kevin Danois and Lassine Sinayoko, but on-loan Barcelona star Ansu Fati pulled a goal back on 56 minutes for Monaco and Balogun equalised a few minutes later.
Monaco had roared back into contention to qualify for the Champions League on a run of seven straight wins, but that streak ended in a 4-1 loss at Paris FC last weekend and this latest slip-up leaves them out of the European slots altogether in seventh, currently three points adrift of the top four.
Balogun has now scored 18 goals in total this season including 10 in his last 10 games between league and Champions League -- he is now gunning for former Brazil star Sonny Anderson's 21st-century Ligue 1 record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches.
Rennes are provisionally up to fourth after a 3-0 win at a Strasbourg side clearly fatigued after winning through to the UEFA Conference League semi-finals on Thursday.
Esteban Lepaul is now Ligue 1's outright leading scorer after putting Rennes in front with his 17th of the season, before Breel Embolo and Mousa Al-Tamari also netted for the away side in Alsace.
Rennes have won seven out of nine games since sacking coach Habib Beye in February, and are just a point behind third-placed Lille who drew 0-0 with Nice on Saturday.
The top three in Ligue 1 qualify directly for the Champions League, with the team finishing fourth entering in the third qualifying round.
Marseille are fifth after losing 2-0 at Lorient on Saturday, while Lyon are a point behind them in sixth.
Leaders Paris Saint-Germain are in action later at home to Lyon, who can climb into the top four with a win at the Parc des Princes.
European champions PSG are top, one point ahead of second-placed Lens with two games in hand. Lens came from two goals down to beat Toulouse 3-2 on Friday.
At the bottom, Metz and Nantes edged closer to relegation with a 3-1 home loss to Paris FC and a 1-1 draw against Brest respectively.
L.Girard--SMC
