PARIS — In an impressive comeback for Rennes in Ligue 1, striker Arnaud Kalimuendo netted a hat trick as they dominated 10-man Saint-Etienne with a resounding 5-0 victory on Saturday.

This match marked a significant milestone for coach Jorge Sampaoli, who secured his first win with the team just two games into his tenure after taking charge earlier this month. Prior to this match, Rennes had struggled offensively, failing to score for over a month and suffering defeats in their last three encounters. However, this decisive win boosted their ranking to 11th place, putting them a point ahead of Saint-Etienne on the league table.

Saint-Etienne complicated their own situation when Mathieu Cafaro, who had previously struck the post, received a red card for a handball inside the box during the 37th minute. Shortly after, Kalimuendo capitalized on the opportunity by converting a penalty, giving Rennes the edge just two minutes later. They concluded the first half with a 2-0 lead when Ludovic Blas, who was instrumental throughout the match, scored in stoppage time.

Kalimuendo continued his impressive performance by adding another goal with a well-placed finish before converting a second penalty, marking his inaugural hat trick in Ligue 1. Amine Gouiri also contributed to the scoreline with a goal, further underscoring Rennes’ dominance in this clash.

Meanwhile, the league leaders, Paris Saint-Germain, were set to face struggling Nantes late on Saturday. Sampaoli brought a passionate approach back to French football after his previous coaching stint at Marseille. Notably, he also led the Argentine national team during the 2018 World Cup and has extensive coaching experience across several countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Spain, and Brazil. His tenure at Marseille ended abruptly in July 2022 after he had guided the team back into the Champions League, following disputes regarding player transfers.