And one, and two, and three zeros. Never worried, Stade Rennais played at home against Maccabi Haifa (3-0) this Thursday, for its entry into the Europa League. And this with a great start. The match referee looks at his watch and whistles for kick-off. After a poor restart on an Israeli throw-in, Rennes regained the ball. Too advanced, Maccabi goalkeeper Itamar Nitzan can do nothing against an extraordinary volley from Ludovic Blas (1-0, 55th). At that moment, the former Nantes player scored the fastest goal in the history of Stade Rennes in the European Cup, after 55 seconds of play.
Bruno Genesio wanted determined players, he got what he wanted. It had been three years since Rennes had lost a home match in the European Cup. The first 45 minutes were a real way of the cross for Maccabi Haifa, asphyxiated by a surge of Red and Black waves. The Bretons doubled the score in the 31st minute of play with another magnificent goal. On a ball delivered by the excellent Lorenz Assignon after a free kick, Adrien Truffert unleashes another superb volley. Nitzan can only lose again (2-0, 31st). Rennais untouchables.
When the second period resumed, for his first start, Yildirim scored the third goal of the match with a header from a corner (3-0, 55th) and buried all suspense. The Rennais could have scored one more goal but the pace of the match dropped considerably in the last twenty minutes (3-0 final score. After a brilliant performance this Thursday evening, the Rennais took the three points in this first Europa match League of the season and will continue on Sunday in Montpellier in Ligue 1, where they remain in four consecutive draws.