At the Groupama Stadium, Rennes’ unbeaten Ligue 1 start disappeared under Lyon’s pressure, with Franck Haise’s heavily altered side beaten 4-0 in the fifth round.
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Haise had warned before the trip that a Wednesday-Saturday schedule would test the depth of his squad. Rennes had drawn 0-0 at Sturm Graz in their Europa League opener two days earlier, then arrived in Lyon unbeaten domestically after three wins and one draw.
Instead, seven changes exposed a clear gap in form and rhythm across the group. Rennes dropped to fifth after their first league defeat, while Lyon’s selection plan worked perfectly. Lyon had made eight changes for their 2-1 European win at Anderlecht before restoring their strongest team against Rennes.
Lepaul’s absence from the starting line-up hurt Rennes
Estéban Lepaul began on the bench for the first time this season, despite being recently called up by France. He had spoken at length with Lyon centre-back Moussa Niakhaté before kick-off, but did not get the opportunity to trouble him until the final half-hour.
At the hour mark, Haise replaced all three members of his attack. Lepaul came on for Boulaye Dia, while Mousa Al-Tamari and Ludovic Blas replaced Arnaud Nordin and Eliezer Mayenda.
Lepaul created danger without finding a goal, a contribution that highlighted Dia’s difficult display. The Lazio loanee appeared short of understanding with the players around him. Nordin started brightly before fading with the rest of the team, while Mayenda made little impact on either flank. He played from the left in the first half and the right after the break, producing only one or two technical moments away from goal.
Mayenda’s return remains a concern given Rennes’ €20 million investment. Time is still required, but Haise has used the naturally central player wide, believing his strengths can be better expressed there. Issa Soumaré was not included in the matchday squad.
Midfield options remain unused
Rennes’ academy was prominent in Zidane’s first squad announcement, with seven former club-trained players selected. Yet several current young players have struggled to make their way into the senior Rennes side in recent months.
Henrick Do Marcolino is regularly mentioned by Haise when discussing a midfield unit built around Valentin Rongier, Adrien Thomasson, Mahdi Camara and Sebastian Szymanski. The 20-year-old, recently called up by Gabon, has played only 12 minutes this season: his appearance in the 2-2 opening-day draw with PSG.
He has not featured again in four Ligue 1 matches and one Europa League fixture. With Rennes’ midfield overwhelmed in Lyon and the result already beyond reach, he might have been given an opportunity. Djaoui Cissé is still catching up after a delayed preparation and has not yet made a matchday group this season.
The left side of the defence was exposed
Rennes made three defensive changes from the draw in Graz, with Charlie Cresswell the only player to retain his place, operating on the right of central defence.
Przemysław Frankowski returned on the right after a hamstring issue, replacing American defender Bryan Reynolds. Abdelhamid Aït-Boudlal came into the centre alongside Cresswell, ending the effective Anthony Rouault partnership that had conceded only once across three matches.
Aït-Boudlal had been affected by transfer-window uncertainty and the arrival of his child, and endured a difficult afternoon in Lyon. Quentin Merlin suffered even more on the left. The full-back was involved, directly or indirectly, in Lyon’s first three goals and was repeatedly targeted by Ernest Nuamah.
Haise eventually replaced Merlin with 21-year-old Cameroon international Mahamadou Nagida. Rennes now have two players sharing the left flank, and both have faced similar defensive problems.
