Stade Rennais – RC Strasbourg Alsace: Lepaul Hat-trick Downs Le Racing (4-1)

It was another make-or-break game for Stade Rennais head coach Habib Beye, with his position at the club under serious jeopardy. The arrival of an RC Strasbourg Alsace side looking to mount a challenge for the UEFA Champions League places appeared to be coming at the worst time for the manager. However, Rennes responded to the challenge as they downed Le Racing in style to give hope to Beye. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Stade Rennais entered this weekend searching for their third victory of the season and a way to end a six-game winless streak. If there was some hope for Habib Beye, it was that his squad seemed to respond best when coming up against Ligue 1’s best sides, with his team claiming victories over Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais. It was clear that a victory was needed if Beye had any hope of righting this ship and saving his job. 

Beye made no changes to the lineup that drew 2-2 with Toulouse FC during the midweek round of fixtures. Brice Samba in goal, with Lilian Brassier, Jérémy Jacquet, and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal as center-backs. On the wings, Musa Al-Taamari and Przemysław Frankowski, with Djaoui Cissé, Valentin Rongier, and Mahdi Camara in midfield. Up front, Estéban Lepaul and Mohamed Kader Meïté. 

RC Strasbourg Alsace’s rise from a mid-table outfit incapable of breaking through Ligue 1’s glass ceiling into one of the country’s best and brightest clubs has been sudden, and no small part due to the multi-club ownership structure that . . .