Despite the arrival of Elye Wahi, Lens did not celebrate their new striker in the best possible way with a 1-1 draw against Rennes at Bollaert on Sunday evening. At the end of the 2nd day of Ligue 1, Lens must face a not really reassuring observation, that of pointing to 14th place in the standings with one point. Rennes now 3rd, on the other hand, grabs a good point after a rather average performance.
The Lensois offered a nice gift to their supporters for their debut at home with a goal in the 3rd minute from Deiver Machado who perfectly recovered a deflection of the head at the near post following a corner. His taut, balanced shot from the left found Steve Mandanda’s side netting masked and helpless. Well grouped defensively, Franck Haise’s group held off a Rennes team without solutions for 50 minutes.
The anger of Bruno Génésio who nudged the plexiglass next to his bench at the end of the first act illustrates Rennes’ difficulties throughout the first period. Bourigeaud’s teammates waited almost half an hour to enter the surface of a Brice Samba who had absolutely nothing to do in the first half before picking up the ball in his net shortly after the back from the changing rooms. Kalimuendo came to recover a high ball was jostled by Abdul Samed in the area on a pass from Blas. The logical penalty awarded by Benoît Millot allowed Benjamin Bourigeaud to score against his training club (53rd) by taking the French international goalkeeper on the wrong foot.
The arrival of Elye Wahi is a good thing for the RCL which will need realism and accuracy in the last gesture, something which was not the case this Sunday evening. Apart from the goal, Lens did not have many chances in the first half, except for a strike near Sotoca and an imprecise attempt by Fulgini in stoppage time. And if Rennes took control of the second period in fact, the Artésiens did not stop increasing the pressure with clear chances, after the equalizer of Bourigeaud. In particular through Andy Diouf who could have put his team ahead a second time on several occasions. On a shot from the left close to the post (65th) and two minutes later on a deflected shot by a Rennes defender then Mandanda, on the crossbar. Florian Sotoca also had the opportunity to score his 2nd goal of the season (after the one in Brest) first on a header which grazed the skylight of Mandanda (59th), then on a cross shot from the right just beside (69th).
At the very end of the match, it was Stade Rennes who could have crucified their evening opponent with a double save from Samba in front of a shot from Matic and another from Kalimuendo in quick succession (90 4). Rennes takes a good point, the 4th of the season after the 3 points of the victory against FC Metz. Lens for its part does not reassure after its 3-2 defeat in Brest last week. The northern club will have to go to the Parc des Princes against PSG with 1 point in the standings, before going to Monaco.