Hatem ben Arfa missed a second-half penalty as an impressive Stade Rennais FC had to settle for a point with a 1-1 draw at AS Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
AS Saint-Etienne 1-1 Stade Rennais FC 
THE MATCH
Wahbi Khazri played on loan for Rennes last season, and made a major contribution to them coming through to claim a UEFA Europa League qualifying place after Christmas.
The Tunisia international could do the same for Saint-Etienne this season — he scored his fifth league goal of the campaign from the penalty spot after his own quick-thinking had caused Clément Grenier to foul him (4′).
The former Girondins de Bordeaux midfielder’s ability on the ball is similar to that of Hatem ben Arfa. The former Olympique Lyonnais man — up against his first club’s arch-rivals — produced an inspired dribble that only Stéphane Ruffier stopped from being a memorable equaliser (31′).
The home goalkeeper was powerless to prevent Ismaïla Sarr levelling soon afterwards — following a smart exchange of passes between Hamari Traoré and Benjamin Bourigeaud, Sarr burst away from Loïc Perrin to fire across Ruffier and into the far corner for his third league goal of 2018/19 (33′).
Ben Arfa penalty miss
Only a quite briliant reflex stop from Abdoulaye Diallo prevented Khazri putting the hosts back in front though — the Saint-Etienne man’s sublime touch took him away from Damien Da Silva, but Diallo pushed his point-blank shot onto a post and gleefully pounced on the rebound (42′).
Rémy Cabella headed wide soon after the restart (50′) but Rennes — as in the first half — were the more threatening.
Ruffier pushed out a Sarr shot (54′) and Ramy Bensebaini should then have scored with a free header (55′) before Ben Arfa — fouled by Timothée Kolodziejczak — sent the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper the wrong way only to see his spot-kick hit the outside of an upright (66′).
Substitute Mbaye Niang forced another stop from Ruffier (77′) before Loïs Diony almost snatched it for the hosts, but his near-post header found the side-netting with seconds left (90+4′).
THE PLAYER: Hatem ben Arfa
He might have missed the penalty that would have won it for his side, but the former Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain man was quite brilliant at times. His pace and close control remain breathtaking — the good news is that his fitness will only improve.
THE STAT: 55
Rennes have not played out a goalless draw in 55 league games, though this was their eighth draw in ten top-flight meetings with Saint-Etienne.
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