Stade Rennais – Olympique Lyonnais: Tyler Morton Red Sees Les Gones Capitulate (3-1)

Olympique Lyonnais looked on course to make it four wins out of four and no goals conceded before Tyler Morton’s harsh red card swung things in Stade Rennais’ favor. The hosts took full advantage of the situation to hit Les Gones with a late barrage and steal all three points from under their noses.

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

It’d been a mixed start to the season for Stade Rennais. A dramatic opening day victory over Olympique de Marseille built excitement around the club, which was duly dashed by an embarrassing defeat to local rivals FC Lorient (4-0) and a draw with Angers SCO (1-1). The international break came at a perfect time for Habib Beye to reset and refresh the squad ahead of the tricky task of hosting Olympique Lyonnais. 

Lyon, in contrast to the general disorder that has taken root in the corridors of the Groupama Stadium in recent years, had been a model of consistency on the field this season. They entered the international break having won their first three matches without having conceded a goal. No one in France was about to label them title challengers, but Lyon had kept pace with Paris Saint-Germain, and there was a curiosity to see how long they could maintain that. 

Beye set his team out in a 3-5-2 shape. Brice Samba was in goal behind Anthony Rouault, Jérémy Jacquet, and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal. On the wings, Quentin Merlin and Przemysław Frankowski, in midfield, Djaoui Cissé, Ludovic Blas, and Valentin Rongier. Up front, summer signings Esteban Lepaul and Breel Embolo looked . . .