Rennes Cruise Past Strasbourg 3-0 as Szymanski Hits Double

Rennes turned a controlled autumn evening at Roazhon Park into a three-goal statement, sweeping Strasbourg aside 3-0 in Ligue 1 Matchday 8 on Sunday. Boulaye Dia opened the scoring after a VAR review before Sebastian Szymanski struck twice, with the home side ruthless whenever Strasbourg threatened to find a way back.

Rennes take control before the interval

1. Strasbourg began with intent. Giovanni Reyna’s 13th-minute header from Genesis Antwi’s cross was saved, while Dário Essugo later saw a long-range effort blocked.
2. Conrad Harder tested Brice Samba from outside the area in the 26th minute after being found by Reyna, but Rennes gradually began to dictate the attacking phases.
3. Szymanski had an early left-footed attempt drift wide, then saw another effort blocked after Dia had supplied him. Dia himself had a shot blocked following a Valentin Rongier pass.
4. Rennes broke through in the 34th minute. Przemyslaw Frankowski created the chance for Dia, whose right-footed finish from the middle of the box was initially checked before VAR confirmed the goal.
5. Strasbourg had already lost discipline, with Gessime Yassine booked shortly before the opener for a foul on Aboubakar Nagida.
6. The home side doubled their advantage seven minutes later. Nagida delivered the assist and Szymanski finished with his left foot from inside the area, placing the ball into the right side of the net.
7. Strasbourg finished the half with corners but no breakthrough. Diogo Sousa was penalised for handball in added time, while Rennes defenders held firm under late pressure.

Szymanski completes the job

1. Strasbourg introduced Yaya Diémé at half-time for Essugo and nearly made an immediate impact, but Diémé sent a left-footed effort narrowly wide after Harder’s pass.
2. Diogo Sousa had a shot blocked from close range, while Strasbourg continued to seek a route through a Rennes defence that had largely kept their efforts at distance.
3. Dia was booked in the 56th minute for dangerous play. Reyna later received a yellow card for a foul on Rongier.
4. Rennes made the result decisive on 61 minutes. Mousa Al Tamari set up Szymanski, who drove a left-footed shot from outside the box into the top-left corner for his second goal.
5. Rennes responded by refreshing their attack and midfield: Eliezer Mayenda replaced Dia and Adrien Thomasson came on for Al Tamari in the 64th minute, before Quentin Merlin replaced Nagida seven minutes later.
6. Strasbourg made a triple change on 70 minutes, bringing on Martial Godo, Samir El Mourabet and Jacobo Ortega for Yassine, Sousa and Harder. Omari Kellyman later replaced Reyna.
7. Rennes also sent on Djaoui Cissé and Ludovic Blas for Mahdi Camara and Szymanski in the 78th minute.

Strasbourg cannot turn pressure into a goal

Even at 3-0 down, Strasbourg continued to create moments around the Rennes penalty area. Diémé headed wide from a Reyna corner, Ortega had an effort blocked and El Mourabet also saw a shot stopped in a crowded box.

Pape Diop forced a low save from outside the area in the 89th minute after being booked for a foul on Blas. In stoppage time, Martial Godo had a shot blocked following Diop’s pass, before Oso was penalised for handball.

Rennes still pressed for a fourth. Merlin’s effort was saved, Blas had a close-range strike blocked and Anthony Rouault headed a Blas free-kick wide before seeing another header saved from a late corner. Strasbourg’s final attacking action was a corner won after Godo’s blocked attempt, but the visitors could not spoil Rennes’ clean sheet.

Key match details

• 34 minutes: Boulaye Dia scored, with the decision upheld following VAR review.
• 41 minutes: Sebastian Szymanski made it 2-0 from Aboubakar Nagida’s assist.
• 61 minutes: Szymanski struck again, assisted by Mousa Al Tamari.
• Bookings: Gessime Yassine, Giovanni Reyna and Pape Diop for Strasbourg; Boulaye Dia for Rennes.