Attractive in the Champions League but disappointing in L1, the Lille, who remained in six games without a win in the league (4 draws, 2 losses), remain in the second part of the table (12th) but are only five points behind the places European.

Rennes, which had not lost since September 19 and therefore 13 matches in all competitions, abandons Marseille its place of dolphin of PSG but remains on the podium.

On the sidelines of the distance duel between Jonathan David and Gaëtan Laborde, the two top scorers in L1 this season, it was Renato Sanches who stood out, initiating the action of the first goal of the defending champions and taking charge of 'register the second.

If the Rennes imposed a lot of intensity in the first quarter of an hour, they had too much waste in the passes or the last movements to be dangerous.

And the absence of Flavien Tait, victim of hip pain, and Lovro Majer, who entered at half-time, Bruno Genesio's men struggled to recover and keep the balls, quickly revealing faults in defense in which Lille has engulfed itself.

Untenable sieges

Launched on the right by Sanches, Timothy Weah first sent a splendid cross to Xeka, who only had to push the ball into the Rennes goal (1-0, 31st).

The joy of Portuguese midfielder from Lille, Xeka, after opening the scoring against Rennes, during the 6th day of Ligue 1, on December 1, 2021 at Roazhon Park JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP

Then, just before the break, Sanches recovered the ball on the left side after a poorly negotiated cross from the same Weah.

Not at all worried by the Rennes defense, the Portuguese had plenty of time to get back into the box and adjust his shot (2-0, 45 ').

In a stadium covered in heavy showers in the second half, Laborde pushed his teammates while captain Hamari Traoré harangued the public.

But despite a much better possession and some great combinations, the Rouge et Noir were unable to create many opportunities against a well-established Lille block, with the return of Sven Botman, one of the pillars of the title. last year.

Frustrated, the Rennes attacked the refereeing, which led to the exclusion of coach Bruno Genesio.

In the last minutes, the stands ignited when Benjamin Bourigeaud reduced the score on a center behind Jérémy Doku, entered on time (2-1, 85th), but the score did not change.

© 2021 AFP