A final in apotheosis for a small match. At the dawn of added time, Lens, who remained in six games without a win in L1, snatched the victory against Rennes thanks to Wesley Saïd (89th).
This time there will be no controversy. Gathered in the same gallery on Tuesday night for the 16th French Cup final against Lille, a scene that displeased the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, the Lens fans were well distributed in the Bollaert stadium against Rennes. But before that happy ending, they were bored with the poverty of the game, which was hardly favored by the weather conditions. It seems a long time ago that at the beginning of the season, Lens and Rennes were among the most attractive teams in L1.
On a lawn swept by the wind and the rain, the first period was very poor (0 shots on target). For his first in L1 with Rennes, the young Turkish goalkeeper Dogan Alemdar (19), bought € 3.5m from Kayserispor but 3rd in the hierarchy behind Alfred Gomis (CAN) and Romain Salin (injured) was just worried about a strike countered by Seko Fofana (36th). The Lensois midfielder, hero of the qualification for the Coupe de France on Tuesday against Lille (doubled and decisive shot on goal) was still omnipresent.
On the side of Rennes, Bruno Genesio tried to wake up his team with the entries of Tait and Doku (56th). The twirling little Belgian international winger quickly brought speed. But it was Lens where Franck Haise also made offensive changes that finished the strongest. Norwegian international Patrick Berg, transferred for € 4m, is making his big debut in L1. If Corentin Jean forced Dogan Alemdar to a big save (78th), Wesley Saïd, who came into play, was therefore decisive by taking back a center from Jonathan Clauss (1-0, 89th). This is the 5th goal this season for Saïd and already the 8th assist for Clauss. The Lensois right piston becomes L1’s best passer, tied with Kylian Mbappé.
“When Jo (Jonathan Clauss) crosses, I know he’s going to put her at the first post. He already did it to me, explains Wesley Saïd. It was a tactical match. We knew that the first to score had a good chance of winning. We were consistent defensively and offensively. We knew that against this great team from Rennes, you shouldn’t be too exposed, otherwise they can give you 2 or 3 goals. We knew how to strike at the right time. “
Lens goes back to 6th place. Eliminated in the Coupe de France by Nancy (L2), Rennes conceded its third defeat in a row and missed the opportunity to resume provisionally in Nice to the third step of the podium before Sunday’s matches.
Match sheet
LENS – RENNES 1-0 (0-0)
Spectators: 5000
Referee: M. Bastien.
But. Saïd (89e).
Warnings. Lens: Medina (16th); Rennes: Bourigeaud (84th).
Lens: Leca – Gradit, Danso, Medina – Clauss, Se. Fofana (cap.) (Sotoca, 84th), Ch. Doucouré, Frankowski (Jean, 70th) – Kakuta (Saïd, 70th), Kalimuendo, Pereira Da Costa (Berg, 70th). Entr. : Haise.
Rennes: Alemdar – Assignon, Badé, Omari, Truffert – J. Martin (Guirassy, 90th), Santamaria, Majer (Tait, 56th) – Terrier (Doku, 56th), Laborde, Bourigeaud (cap.) (Tchaouna, 76th). Entr. : Genesio.
