Stade Rennais – Lille OSC: A Glimpse of Hope for Rennes But They Self-Destruct as Usual (1–2)

Stade Rennais were by far the more dangerous side in their clash with Lille OSC, but Davide Ancelotti and his players came away with all three points thanks to ruthless finishing some costly mistakes by Rennes.

Tactical analysis and match report by André Martins.

It's hard to think of a bigger bogey team for Stade Rennais than LOSC. Rennes have won just one of their last 14 meetings with the northern club, losing seven and drawing six.

At Roazhon Park, where the Mordelles stand was covered by a huge tifo celebrating the Ultras Rennais’ 35th anniversary, the Bretons were looking to reaffirm their status as contenders for European places — perhaps even the Champions League, given the money spent in the transfer market every summer. Lille, on the other hand, had little reason to change anything, with the results keeping their supporters happy at the start of the season.

Franck Haise stuck with the 3-5-2 he had first introduced against Juventus in the Europa League three weeks earlier. Brice Samba started in goal, behind a back three of Gonçalo Oliveira, Charlie Cresswell and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal. Wing-backs Mahamadou Nagida and Bryan Reynolds flanked the midfield trio of Mahdi Camara, Valentin Rongier and Adrien Thomasson. With Estéban Lepaul still injured, Boulaye Dia led the line, supported by Eliezer Mayenda.

Lille lined up in a 4-3-3. Calvin Verdonk, Alexsandro Ribeiro, Tanguy Nianzou and Nathan Ngoy made up the back four in front of Berke Özer. Benjamin André, Nabil Bentaleb and Ngal'ayel Mukau formed the midfield. Soriba Diaoune . . .