PLAYER RATINGS | Rennes 3-0 Lyon: Les Bretons lay down opening-day marker | OneFootball

Bastien Cheval reporting from Roazhon Park, Rennes

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 1, 18/08/2024

Rennes hosted Lyon for their season-opening home game at the Roazhon Park. The latter was far from being full due to the partial closing of the lower Mordelles stand for the use of pyros. Les Rennais were in desperate need of a spark to light up the evening and it came from the stands’ most adored player.

Former club captain Benjamin Bourigeaud – reportedly close to signing for Al-Duhail – opened the scoring with a powerful free-kick effort that took a heavy deflection from Lyon’s Nemanja Matic. The Serbian midfielder was reminded of his defection from Rennes for family reasons last season and was roundly booed by the Roazhon Park. The ground was bouncing again minutes after the goal with Moussa Niakhaté gifting a loose back-pass to Amine Gouiri. The Algeria international coolly rounded Lucas Perri before making it 2-0 for the hosts.

Les Rouge et Noir could have made it three if not for the Brazilian keeper’s heroics to deny Ludovic Blas. The visitors were leaky at the back, overwhelmed in midfield and their decision-making going forward left much to be desired. When Rennes looked like a team playing a competitive game, it seemed Lyon were still very much in pre-season mode. Les Gones lost too many balls at every edge of the pitch and were harmless up front, logging no shot on target in the first half.

Rennes were still rampant in the second act, slicing through their opponents’ midfield with relative ease. Lyon were all over the place and the hosts missed several opportunities to kill off the game, with Gouiri inches away from a brace with his effort striking the crossbar. Lyon were offered a way back with substitute Malick Fofana winning a penalty with Lorenz Assignon the guilty party after fouling the Belgian. Marquee signing Georges Mikautadze stepped up but 39-year-old Steve Mandanda parried his effort away.

In injury time, substitute Henrik Meister applied the finishing touch with a powerful effort in Perri’s bottom corner. It was not to be for Pierre Sage’s Lyon. Les Gones have been second-best in every area of the game and deservedly lost to a three-goal margin. The absence of club captain Alexandre Lacazette can’t justify a display as poor as this.

Rennes players ratings

Steve Mandanda, 7

Lorenz Assignon, 5

Leo Østigård, 6

Christopher Wooh, 6

Alidu Seidu, 6

Azor Matusiwa, 7

Glen Kamara, 6

Benjamin Bourigeaud, 6

For what may have been his final game at the Roazhon Park, the RC Lens youth product delivered and scored his 66th club goal with a powerful free-kick. Came off to rapturous applause after a tireless midfield shift.

Albert Grønbæk, 6

Amine Gouiri, 7

The Algeria international got on the scoresheet in scoring his side’s all-important second goal with nous and composure and he also assisted Henrik Meister’s debut goal in injury time. Aside from that, he tormented Lyon’s backline with his efforts. He also could have scored a brace had he not hit the crossbar with a great curling effort.

Ludovic Blas, 5

Lyon players ratings

Lucas Perri, 5

Clinton Mata, 4

Duje Caleta-Car, 4

Moussa Niakhaté, 3

The Senegal international cost Lyon a reported €32m which, in itself, is an inflated fee for a 28-year-old centre-back entering his final contract year with Nottingham Forest. He made very little to justify Lyon’s outlay and was entirely responsible for Rennes’ second goal in gifting Gouiri a loose pass intended for Perri.

Abner, 4

Maxence Caqueret, 5

Nemanja Matic, 3

Orel Mangala, 4

Ernest Nuamah, 3

Georges Mikautadze, 4

For his competitive Lyon debut, the Euro 2024 sensation was a thorn in Rennes’ defense, unlike his teammates on the wings, but he was well too isolated to make a difference, cutting a frustrating figure. He missed the opportunity to halve his side’s deficit by missing a penalty.

Saïd Benrahma, 3

GFFN | Bastien Cheval