1-1 is a popular scoreline at the start of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats season and that was the result of Rennes' home game with Lens despite Kamaldeen Sulemana netting on his debut in the French game.
THE MATCH
Both clubs had decent 2020-2021 campaigns with Rennes finishing sixth and Lens seventh. Rennes fans were excited about seeing new signing Sulemana and the Ghanaian international needed only 14 minutes to make his mark as he gave the Brittany club the lead. Sulemana concluded a swift counter by curling a wonderful shot into the corner of the net.
The Rennes lead only lasted five minutes as Franck Haise's visitors equalised (19'). Nayef Aguerd lost the ball in his own box under pressure from Simon Banza. His cross reached the unmarked Seko Fofana and the visiting captain finished with glee.
Ignatius Ganago headed wide a Jonathan Clauss corner (52') and Banza couldn't apply the finishing touch to a teasing Gaël kakuta cross (59') as Lens threatened a Rennes defence featuring Loïc Badé, the summer signing from Lens. It was Badé who made a crucial deflection when Kakuta let fly from distance (67').
Rennes substitute Romain Del Castillo flicked a free-kick over the bar (89') and Lens had a goal chalked off (90+2') as Florian Sotoca was offside even before Kevin Danso handled the ball into the net. The two clubs couldn't be separated and three of the first four Ligue 1 Uber Eats games of the season finished with a 1-1 scoreline.
THE PLAYER: Kamaldeen Sulemana
The fourth Ghanaian to play for Rennes - after John Mensah, Asamoah Gyan and John Boye - he joined for 15 million euros from Danish club Nordsjaelland. Sulemana, 19, has great potential and Rennes followers will be looking forward to seeing the exciting wide man operate at the same time as Jérémy Doku, his fellow 19-year-old, who replaced him early in the second half.
THE STAT: 5
By taking a point, Lens ended a run of five straight losses in their opening game of the Ligue 1 season.
