Stade Rennais FC 0-1 Olympique Lyonnais

THE MATCH

The elder Doué brother got the nod at right-back for Rennes with Lorenz Assignon suspended, but he quickly joined his squad mate on the sidelines after a bad foul on Nicolas Tagliafico's shin which saw him red carded (6'). Corentin Tolisso, back from a suspension of his own, tried to capitalise on Lyon's numerical advantage soon after but Steve Mandanda turned his bottom corner-bound shot out for a corner (7'). Skelly Alvaro then volleyed a Rayan Cherki cross off-target (20') before firing another effort beyond Mandanda, but also his goal frame (21'). Lyon looked comfortable and the closest Rennes came to threatening their goal in the first half was when Benjamin Bourigeaud sent a free-kick straight into Anthony Lopes's gloves (32'). Lyon failed to convert after a goal-mouth scramble following a Cherki corner (44') and it was 0-0 at the break.

O'Brien breaks the deadlock

Bruno Génésio made three changes at the break, with Jeanuël Belocian, Baptiste Santamaria and Arnaud Kalimuendo providing fresh legs (46'), but OL continued to dominate possession and Alexandre Lacazette - a second-half substitute of their own - fired wide soon after (58'). Kalimuendo had a site of OL's goal minutes later but failed to test Lopes (60'). That profligacy was quickly punished with Jake O'Brien heading home the opener from Saël Kumbedi's cross (67'). Rennes were largely reduced to chances from set pieces and Enzo Le Fée might have done more than slam another free-kick into the wall (74'). Rennes absorbed the rest of Lyon's pressure from there, but were powerless to turn the tide as it ended 1-0.

THE PLAYER: Rayan Cherki

It may be easier to shine against ten men than 11 but this was nonetheless a fine performance from Cherki, and one he sorely needed. The France U21 star was left out of squad due to face Olympique de Marseille by Fabio Gross recently, but did his case for further inclusion no harm at all here.

THE STAT: 10

Lyon may still be rooted to the foot of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table, but this defeat means Rennes have only won one of their last 10 games, with six draws and now three defeats - their worst run since March 2021.

LOSC 1-1 Toulouse FC

At the other end of the table, Lille kept pace with the podium places but will see their 1-1 draw with Toulouse FC as points dropped. Leny Yoro's first-half header was one of 13 attempts les Dogues had on goal to their opponents' two, but one of those two counted, with Thijs Dallinga snatching a share of the spoils just past the hour mark.

Clermont Foot 63 1-0 FC Lorient

Lyon might have pulled to within a point of second-bottom Clermont had Pascal Gastien's side not beaten Lorient 1-0 in their relegation six-pointer. A late Shamar Nicholson penalty proved enough to separate the sides at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied.

FC Metz 3-1 FC Nantes

The highest-scoring game of the afternoon came at Metz, where les Grenats coasted past Nantes 3-1. The game felt closer than the scoreline suggested, with Moses Simon's strike sandwiched by goals from Kevin Van Den Kerkhof and Simon Elisor in the first half. It stayed 2-1 until five minutes from time, when Joel Asoro made sure.