(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights RENNAIS - OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS
...hosted Lyon in the weekend's penultimate game,
hoping to improve their domestic form
and mount a charge up the table
after a convincing display in European action
during the week.
A 3-1 win over Panathinaikos
in the Europa League for Alirene
achieved despite an early sending off.
In terms of tenacity,
Lyon, who greets a draw specialists,
could do with transferring to domestic duties
where they've been stranded in mid-table
after winning just twice.
This could be worse, though.
Just look at Fabio Grosso's OL
who dribbled west to Brittany,
still searching for their first win this season,
but failing to do so against Metz last time out.
In fact, rescuing a point late on,
Skelly Alvaro equalising in the 84th minute.
They were given a leg up here, however.
Guela Duwe got the nod out right back.
Borén, with Laurence Asseigneur suspended,
quickly joined his squad-mate in the sin bin
after a nasty foul on Nicolas Takiafico
saw him red-carded after just 4 minutes and 11 seconds.
Duwe receives the second-earliest red-card
by a Rennes player since Opta records began.
The fastest was Rami Benzabaini in 2017,
four seconds quicker, also against Lyon.
Visitors looked to take advantage
of their numerical advantage.
Into the box led to a bit of a scramble.
Alvaro with a swing and a miss.
Eventually, Irish centre-back Jacob Bryan
able to find the side netting.
So, goalless at the break.
Nojenezio made three changes during half-time
as he looked to shore things up for his ten men.
Jean-Noël Belossion, Baptiste Santamaria
and Arnaud Calimbuendo providing fresh legs.
The latter would produce a shot on target
soon enough after the restart.
Lyon trying to play the ball out from the back.
Stolen, looking to make the most of it.
A nice turn over to Calimbuendo.
He waited and picked his moment.
He could only fire it straight out to the Lyon keeper.
Noël continued to dominate possession
as they had in the first half
and would eventually make the most of it.
O'Brien heading home from Saïl Koubetis Cross.
In just his fifth appearance,
it's joining from Crystal Palace for one million euros
producing a priceless goal for Noël
as they look to spark a recovery this campaign.
O'Brien with great bravery,
making sure he put in front of his man
and becoming the third Irish player to score
in Ligue 1 Uber Eats after Tony Cascarino and Mick McCarthy.
The latter also with Noël.
And they would see out the rest of the game
to finally earn that first win of the season.
Rennes have now lost four of the last five
and are just one point above the relegation playoff spot.
Lyon remain bottom
but perhaps can now find some self-belief.
Turned out all they needed was the luck of the Irish.