Stade Rennais FC 0 : 4 Montpellier - Magic Montpellier rout Rennes

Montpellier ended a seven game winless streak away from home with a crushing Ligue 1 win over in-form Rennes at Stade de la Route de Lorient.

Jonas Martin opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before the visitors ran riot in the second half.

Morgan Sanson made it two after 55 minutes before Lucas Barrios and Anthony Mounier complete the scoring.

The win moves Montpellier up one place to seventh, where they are one point behind Rennes.

After four successive wins and no defeat in nine, Rennes were expected to complete a victory which would put the pressure on those in the European places. And early on it looked like the match would go the way of the form book.

The in-form Paul-Georges Ntep teed up Mahamadou Habibou but his shot on the turn was blocked by Abdelhamid El Kaoutari before Mexer headed just wide direct from a corner.

The pressure continued and, after 19 minutes Martin released Barrios, who poked the ball beyond Benoit Costil, but his finish was hacked off the line by Sylvain Armand.

However, they were ahead three minutes later when a marauding run from Paul Lasne presented Barrios with a chance to put the ball into the box and his delivery was bundled home by Martin.

Rennes had the chance to level after 37 minutes when Ntep's delivery from the left found Habibou whose first-time effort from just three yards cannoned back off the crossbar.

Phillip Hosiner pounced on the rebound but keeper Jonathan Ligali somehow kept his effort out.

And 10 minutes after the restart Ligali's bravery was rewarded when Mounier found Sanson in the area and he controlled before beating Costil.

Two became three on the hour mark when Barrios converted Sanson's cross from close range.

And with two minutes left they were four up when Sanson's ball released Mounier on the counter and he took full advantage of his opportunity, slotting beyond Costil as Montpellier picked up only their second away win of the campaign.