PLAYER RATINGS | Lorient 2-1 Rennes – Les Merlus snatch Breton derby win

Lorient win in the Breton derby against Rennes and earn their first win at home this season. A comical own-goal from Omari gave the home side the lead, before Ludovic Blas equalised. Yet, after Rennes domination throughout the first-half, it was towering centre-back Isaac Touré who poked home to give Les Merlus the lead.

The game got off to a nightmarish start for Rennes when defender Warmed Omari contributed to an early own goal in the third minute. Omari’s calamitous first touch off Aiyegun Tosin’s cross rebounded off the crossbar, and he subsequently failed to clear the ball, instead directing it into his own net.

Despite the unfortunate start, Rennes quickly regrouped and began to assert themselves. Their persistence paid off after 20 minutes when Ludovic Blas netted a sublime equaliser, finishing off a well-orchestrated passing move triggered by Enzo Le Fee (on his return to the Stade de Moustoir). Amine Gouiri’s pinpoint pass set up Blas for his second goal of the season, marking Gouiri’s first assist of the campaign.

Rennes dominated possession and peppered Yvon Mvogo’s goal with attempts. Adrien Truffert, in particular, tested the Swiss international goalkeeper with a volley from outside the box and a low long-range effort, both of which Mvogo parried brilliantly to deny Rennes.

However, against the run of play, Lorient found themselves back in the lead just before half-time. Isaac Touré, the towering Lorient center-back, made a foray into the attacking third. Touré won a header against Belocieni, and another error from Omari provided the 2.06-meter tall giant with an opportunity to poke the ball emphatically into the net.

Rennes pressed hard, but Yvonn Mvogo was up to the task, making vital saves to keep Lorient in