Round 5, Ligue 1 McDonald’s, 19/09/26

With both teams unbeaten in Ligue 1 before the match at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon and Rennes were hoping to maintain momentum in what could be a wide-open title race. It was OL that would maintain their momentum with a comprehensive 4-0 victory thanks to a brace from Nuamah, and goals from Tolisso and Athekame.

Despite early pressure from Les Rouges et Noirs, it was Lyon that took the lead. A well-worked counter attack created an overload in the Rennes box, and Tolisso managed to find Nuamah in space. The Ghanaian international made no mistake from close range – tucking the ball neatly into the bottom corner. Charlie Cresswell went closest to scoring for Rennes in the opening 15 minutes. The Englishman had a free header at the back post after being left unmarked from a corner. However, his connection was tame and he couldn’t trouble Greif.

Nuamah really should have doubled his tally and OL’s lead inside 25 minutes. Tolisso did brilliantly, again, to win the ball in an advanced positon. The Lyon captain fed the winger in a similar position to his goal. Nevertheless, he was unable to beat Samba on this occasion, and the Rennes stopper was able to keep the deficit to one goal. Tolisso almost had his second assist of the night as he found space on the left flank to play a pinpoint cross to the onrushing Bidstrup. The Dane couldn’t connect with the delivery thanks to a last ditch challenge from Thomasson to turn the ball behind for a corner. Just before the half hour mark, Nuamah did have his second goal. The forward found Šulc in space before making his way into the penalty area to receive the return pass and find the back of the net to double his tally and Les Gones’ lead. Samba managed to get a hand to the shot but it wasn’t enough to deny the 22-year-old.

The match was then suspended for more than ten minutes after Lyon fans unveiled a derogatory banner aimed at their eternal rivals Saint Etienne. The fans were warned and the match evenutally resumed. Openda went close to extending Lyon’s lead before the break but he couldn’t beat Samba. Nordin went closest for Rennes but his effort was well over the crossbar. Šulc had the last effort on goal before the break but he couldn’t beat the Breton side’s keeper from a tight angle.

It wouldn’t take long for OL to strike after the break and extend their lead. Abner drilled a low cross across the six-yard box – causing a goalmouth scramble. Athekame was in the right place at the right time at the back post to turn the ball home and score his second goal of the season. Openda, desperate to get involved on the goalscoring, fired an effort from range but he managed to direct it nowhere near the target.

Openda thought he had finally got in on the goalscoring action. However, his effort was disallowed following a foul from Tolisso in the build-up. It just wasn’t the Belgian forward’s night. Lyon were not finished there. The OL captain added a fourth following a nice pass from Athekame, allowed him to whip the ball first time into the top corner.

Rennes still pushed despite the fact the result was sealed in the final ten minutes. Lepaul had a great opportunity to secure a consulation goal but Greif was equal to his effort. Blas and Camara also had efforts late on, but the Les Gones could not be breached as they capped off a briliant attacking display with a clean sheet.