PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 1-1 Rennes: Hosts held to frustrating draw | OneFootball

Ligue 1, Matchday 2, Lens v Rennes, 20/08/2023

RC Lens’ first Ligue 1 home game of the season started with Elye Wahi signing his contract, and it ended with a draw against Stade Rennais.

The Artois side started brilliantly, showing glimpses of their impressive counter-pressing qualities that had brought them to second place last season. It only took three minutes for Le Sang et Or to draw first blood. Colombian full-back Deiver Machado found the back of Steve Mandanda’s net with an inspired left-footed half-volley from a corner kick Enzo Le Fée had failed to properly clear.

Rennes badly struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity. They gradually grew into the game though, but not nearly enough to seriously threaten Brice Samba. The former Nottingham Forest was impeccably shielded by Lens’ ever-reliable defence. The visitors failed to register a single shot during the first half. Sotoca went close to doubling his side’s lead just before half-time, but he could only find Mandanda’s side netting with a powerful volley.

Lens were left to rue these chances and their failure to add to their advantage. Benjamin Bourigeaud fed Arnaud Kalimuendo who was then brought to the ground by Salis Abdul Samed in the box. Benoît Millot pointed to the spot and Bourigeaud, a former Lens youth product, wrong-footed Samba to restore parity. In two Ligue 1 games, Lens have conceded three penalties. Rennes’ Bruno Geneseio rang the changes with Nemanja Matić, Désiré Doué and Jérémy Doku respectively replacing the struggling Baptiste Santamaria, Le Fée and Ludovic Blas.

The visitors’ high line invited Lens to keep on knocking at the door. Mandanda deflected an Andy Diouf strike on his crossbar whilst Samba came up big in front of Doku. It was end-to-end stuff between two of Ligue 1’s best sides. The hosts then dominated the last ten minutes with Rennes relying on counter-attacking opportunities. Eventually, Lens were lacking the attacking edge and finishing touch Wahi could have offered them. The former Montpellier man is expected to feature next week against PSG at Parc des Princes. As for Rennes, they could have snatched a last-gasp win if not for Samba’s heroics. Still, they gained a point in one of Ligue 1’s most hostile grounds. The Bretons will host Le Havre next Sunday.

Lens players ratings

Brice Samba, 7

Deiver Machado, 6

Facundo Medina, 5

Kevin Danso, 6

Jonathan Gradit, 5

Przemysław Frankowski, 5

Andy Diouf, 7 – An industrious performance from the former Basel midfielder. He won the vast majority of his duels and embodied Lens’ physicality and pressing. He was also a lively outlet in Rennes’ final third and could have scored. A showing reminiscent of Seko Fofana’s all-action displays.

Salis Abdul Samed, 4

Angelo Fulgini, 5

Adrien Thomasson, 5

Florian Sotoca, 4

Rennes players ratings

Steve Mandanda, 6

Lorenz Assignon, 5

Warmed Omari, 5

Arthur Theate, 6

Jeanuël Belocian, 5

Benjamin Bourigeaud, 6

Baptiste Santamaria, 3

Enzo Le Fée, 4 – The attacking midfielder was not as influential going forward as he can be, although to be fair, he was not really helped by his teammates in that regard. Still, a player this good should not be losing that many balls. It was not surprising then to see him hooked at the hour mark and replaced by the lively Désiré Doué.

Ludovic Blas, 4

Arnaud Kalimuendo, 5

Amine Gouiri, 5

GFFN | Bastien Cheval