It was not the spectacle of the century, Saturday January 8 at Bollaert-Delelis. It must be said that the dire climatic conditions in the Pas-de-Calais did not facilitate the task of the 22 players on the lawn. Faced with a Rennes team against which they often have trouble (only one victory in their last 15 meetings in Ligue 1), the Lensois managed, at the end of the suspense, to restart the machine at home (1-0) during this 20th day of the championship. The last success of Franck Haise’s men dated back to November 5 against Troyes (4-0). An eternity for the Blood and Gold …
For its part, Stade Rennais failed to get back into first gear after a complicated end of the year 2021 (two losses against Nice (1-2) then Monaco (2-1)) and an elimination in the Coupe de France against Nancy on penalties last week. Above all, Bruno Genesio’s players missed the opportunity to get back on the third step of the podium and see their evening opponent come back to a point.
> Relive the Lensoise victory against Rennes on Matchday 20 of Ligue 1
In a long padlocked meeting, @ Westar974 had the key! Strong behind and realistic offensively, the Artesiens sign a precious success and ideally start 2022 in the league @RCLens 1⃣-0⃣ @Rennais Stadium
⚽ Wesley Saïd (89 ‘)#RCLSRFC pic.twitter.com/6uKNEO509Q
– Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) January 8, 2022
On the field side, if the first period was not lacking in rhythm, the opportunities, mainly Lensoise, did not transcend the crowds. The first came in the 10th minute through Arnaud Kalimuendo but his left strike was well repelled by Dogan Alemdar. This good start of the Sang et Or did not materialize and little by little, Lorenz Assignon’s outbursts in the right lane hurt the Lens defense.
The two blocks, well organized, made defensive efforts and left little space. At the half hour mark, captain Seko Fofana inherited a good ball in Rennes’ area and tried to eliminate the defenders in front of him. He got on his right foot and managed to shoot but his blocked shot ended just over Alemdar’s goal. There will hardly be any more dangerous situations before the break.
Where everything changed #RCLSRFC (1-0) pic.twitter.com/LzhFQ4tqy1
– Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@ Ligue1UberEats) January 8, 2022
In the second period, the return of Jérémy Doku on the Breton side shortly after the return from the locker room brought speed and liveliness. Gaëtan Laborde was very close to giving the advantage to his team but his goal was logically refused for an offside at the start of the action (58th). Over the minutes, the premises were more vehement and Kalimuendo, again, was very close to winning the ball victoriously after a strike from Corentin Jean repulsed by Alemdar (77th).
Finally, it is a player trained at Stade Rennais, Wesley Saïd, who comes to play the savior at the very end of regulation time. The former Dijonnais came perfectly to cut a cross at the near post from Jonathan Clauss (1-0, 89th) to score his fifth goal of the season and bring back a precious success for the Lensois.