Lyon went into tonight's Ligue 1 clash with Rennes aiming to end a morale-destroying run of four successive defeats in all competitions.
Remi Garde's side struggled early on but dominated throughout the second half, with Bafetimbi Gomis returning to lead the line alongside Alexandre Lacazette.
Gomis came closest to breaking the deadlock on a frustrating night for the hosts, smashing a strike off the crossbar before Lacazette had a late strike cleared off the line.
Look back a goalless draw which Rennes boss Phillipe Montanier the happier manager by checking out Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening European football fans. A welcome return to club action across the continent concludes tonight in Northern France, with Lyon hosting Rennes in an intriguing clash between regular contenders in the top tier of Ligue 1.
Lyon are looking to get their campaign back on track after a wretched run of four successive defeats in all competitions before the international break. With the disappointment of Champions League failure behind them it's time Remi Garde's side to focus on improving in Ligue 1, after initially making an encouraging start with successive victories in their first two games.
Remi Garde has a young squad full of potential, but their inconsistent start to the campaign shows perhaps a lack of experience. The likes of Maxime Gonalons and Yoann Gourcuff need to step and show leadership in the next few weeks, although Gourcuff is missing tonight due to injury.
Rennes on the other hand head to the Gerland tonight in positive mood, after a solid start to life under new coach Phillipe Montanier, who worked wonders at Real Sociedad last season. Seven points from four matches is a healthy return, but tonight's clash with Lyon represents probably the first true test of a new-look Rennes.
Montanier was very busy in the last few days of the transfer window. Melvut Erding was shipped out and Foued Kadir and Emerson brought in, in support of major summer acquisition Nelson Oliveira.
Oliveira has made a strong start to life in Ligue 1, scoring three goals in as many starts. The Portuguese international is on loan from Benfica this season and if he continues to perform at this level I expect a whole host of European clubs to follow his progress very closely.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! Well after three months of transfer wrangling Lyon have welcomed Bafetimbi Gomis in from the cold tonight. Last season's top scorer starts tonight for his first involvement of the campaign, with the pressure on to win over Lyon fans all over again. A full look at both teams will follow shortly!
LYON XI: A.Lopes, Bedimo, Bisevac, Umtiti, Dabo, Fofana, Grenier, Gonalons, Fekir, Gomis, Lacazette
RENNES XI: Costil, M'Bengue, Kana-Biyik, Armand Danze, Pajot, Konradsen, Kadir, Féret, Pitroipa, Oliveira
Gomis will grab the headlines for Lyon in a side featuring a few changes, with the large majority enforced. Nabil Fekir's inclusion in an advanced midfield role is a slight surprise, in place of the absent Gourcuff. Fofana also returns in midfield at the expense of Steed Malbranque, while Mouhamadou Dabo starts at full-back.
Rennes give a full debut to Foued Kadir, who joined on loan from Marseille on transfer deadline-day. He will play in an advanced wide role in support of Oliveira, with the always exciting Jonathan Pitroipa a consistent threat on the opposite flank.
PREDICTION! Tonight's match looks to be a battle of the big strikers, with Gomis going up against an in-form Oliveria in a battle for the points and headlines. Garde's side are in for a stern test this evening and I can see Rennes doing enough to take a point away from the Gerland, with Pitroipa's pace to be a factor in a 1-1 draw!
Here come the two teams, met be a marvellous atmosphere at the Gerland. Can Lyon get their campaign back on track tonight, or will Motanier's new-look Rennes send out a statement of intent at the Gerland? We are about to find out!
We are underway at the Stade Gerland as Rennes take the kickoff, shooting from right to left in their traditional red and black strip.
Almost a dramatic start as Pitroipa is played through inside a minute, but off balance the winger flicks well beyond the near post. An early warning as if Lyon's backline needed it that he possesses enough pace to cause problems, with Bisevac clearing behind for a corner kick.
SAVE! Kadir comes close to an early goal for Rennes as he ghosts into the penalty area, meeting a cutback from Pitroipa. His neat control and finish is parried by a strong hand from Lopes, allowing Dabo to smash clear.
Lyon look a side just lacking confidence in the opening exchanges as Grenier plays a stray pass out wide. Gomis is playing through the middle supported by Lacazette, but is yet to get a touch on the ball.
Konradsen launches into a sliding tackle that earn a warning from the referee, but no further action as advantage is played. Rennes have definitely settled quicker in possession but concede another foul as Danze is judged to have brought down Lacazette unfairly.
Armand launches a long diagonal in search of Pitroipa, finding the winger in space near the corner flag. Rennes have numbers in the penalty area but a wild cross flies straight out of play on the full. At the other end Lyon employ a similar tactic in search of Gomis, who is cancelled out by an important interception from Kana-Biyik.
Both sides are showing commitment in central midfield but Rennes continue to keep the ball better, despite a strong interception from Fofana on the far side. Lacazette then does will to pick out Gomis, who is once again denied the chance to turn and shoot by Kana-Biyik.
We have an enforced break in play to receive treatment after a tussle with Gomis, with the pair banging knees in a tussle for the ball. After some of the old magic spray the defender is fine to continue, returning to continue what is sure to be a pivotal battle in the context of the match.
Better approach play from Lyon sees Fofana inject some pace into proceedings out wide, sending a speculative cross towards Gomis. The forward has two defenders for company but still makes contact with a flick header at the near post, which falls way off target. Much more like from Garde's side.
CHANCE! Maxime Gonalons should probably have just given Lyon the lead. The captain did brilliantly to meet a curling corner kick from Grenier at the near post, but after beating his marker with a huge leap could only powerfully head across goal and wide of the far post. The best opening of the match by quite some distance is spurned.
Lacazette drifts out wide and uses his pace to bear two players with a direct run into the penalty area. His cutback just fails to find Grenier, but Lyon have definitely stepped things up in the last five minutes.
Lyon threaten again from a corner kick as Lacazette wins a flick header at the near post, with Rennes just about able to scramble clear in the penalty area.
Pitroipa dances through three challenges in a wonderful slalom run into the penalty area, before finding Feret inside. The midfielder attempts to find Pitriopa with a give-and-go instead of using the space to shoot, allowing Bisevac to intercept and with that the chance is gone.
Gomis gets his first shot on target after turning to shoot with venom from at least 30 yards. Costil in the Rennes goal initially struggles to hold the strike before gathering at the second attempt. Grenier then follows suit with a similarly speculative strike, which Costil this time catches first time.
Kadir is a touch unfortunate to concede a foul after a strong tussle with Lacazette, who is everywhere in a seemingly free role this evening. There is much debate as to where Garde can get the best out of the youngster and tonight will do little to end that conversation.
Dabo's deep ball to the far post is smashed clear by Kana-Biyk as Rennes decide to drop a little deeper with half-time looming. Oliveira then fails to make a forward pass count under pressure from Bisevac, with a central strike from at least 40 yards easily claimed by Lopes.
Fofana is the latest Lyon midfielder to let fly from distance, with his fine effort just curling away from the far post by a few yards.
Oliveira leads a sudden Rennes break into the penalty area, twisting and turning inside Bisevac before aiming a low shot towards the near post. Lopes is equal to the effort and helps launch a Lyon counter, which leads to Lacazette using his pace to win a corner kick at the other end.
HALF TIME Lyon 0-0 Rennes
Well in the end a hard-fought first half saw strong defences dominate, with a congested midfield battle finding cleat-cut goalscoring opportunities limited. Positives to take for both sides though, with the match still very much up for grabs.
Rennes were quicker out of the traps and posed a threat early on through Pitropia, but looked a touch one-dimensional and preferred to keep possession deep rather than be adventurous.
Lyon grew in confidence as the half progressed as Gomis found his touch in the final third, but clear-cut chances were kept to an absolute minimum by Kana-Biyik and Armand. Lacazette has looked lively for the hosts, while Fofana has also shown fleeting moments of quality in advanced areas.
BENCH WATCH! Both sides have options to call upon if this match remains deadlocked, which does look likely. You have to feel that Gomis is unlikely to complete a full 90 minutes in attack for Lyon, with fellow summer outcast Jimmy Briand named among the subs. Rennes meanwhile have Argentine striker Silvio Romero waiting in reserve.
Both sides are back out at the Stade Gerland as Gomis and Lacazette get the second half underway.
Lyon attack with purpose early in the second period but Lacazette's forward burst leads to nothing as Gomis goes down heavily, but thankfully returns to his feet quickly.
Pitroipa glides past Umtiti with staggering ease to float a cross towards the near post, with Oliveira losing out to Bisevac in a battle to meet the ball as he has done pretty much thoughout so far this evening. Still plenty of time to make an impact though!
SAVE! Lacazette creates space again on the right to drive inside the penalty are, before unleashing a powerful low drive towards goal. His effort was struck with venom but Costil is alive to the danger, turning wide with a strong hand.
A very poor first touch from Pajot ends what looked to be a wonderful chance to counter for Rennes. The visitors had spare men over but the midfielder failed to control, allowing Bedimo to clear his lines.
Konradsen decides to slow things down for Rennes as they keep possession deep in their own half, before Costil eventually smashes upfield. That allows Fekir to get clear down the left after a neat pass from Grenier, with his cross just evading Gomis at the near post.
Gomes robs possession in the final third and looks to get the ball on his right foot for a strike at goal. That strike just allows M'Bengue to get back and block his effort at goal, before clearing out to touch.
OFF THE LINE! Lacazette absolutely rifles an effort that beats Costil and looks destined for the far corner, only for Danze to sense the danger and brilliantly clear off the line with a diving header. The Rennes skipper is the involved again as he lunges into the back of Kadir, who has caused him problems all night as a late challenge leads to the game's first caution.
SUBSTITUTION: Lyon's spell off pressure is interrupted by an injury to Bisevac, who pulls up with a muscle problem. Bakary Kone is quickly brought on as his replacement and will slot in as a makeshift central defender.
OFF THE BAR! Gomis has just gone agonisingly close to making his return with the opening goal. The forward turned away from his marker before smashing a piledriver that looks destined for the top corner, but hits the underside of the crossbar before bouncing out. He then misses a header from close range a minute later, but both efforts were extremely unlucky.
SUBSTITUTION: Rennes make their first change to shore things up on the right flank. Kadir has been replaced by deadline-day signing Emerson, with the Brazilian on in a conservative swap. If you offered Montanier a 0-0 right now I think he'd definitely take it!
Fofana goes down just outside the penalty area, winning a free kick which gives Lyon a wonderful chance to break the deadlock. Fekir surprisingly wins the fight to take but gets his effort all wrong, curling well over the crossbar!
SUBSTITUTION: Rennes make a change in attack as long striker Oliveira is put out of his misery, after a frustrating and largely isolated afternoon. Argentine striker Romero is on to provide fresh legs in the lone front role!
SUBSTITUTIONS: Another change for both sides, with Lyon sending on the experienced Malbranque in place of Grenier. Rennes meanwhile have swapped Pitroipa for Hunou after a quiet second half.
Lacazette is still pressing with purpose in the final third and wins a corner kick. Fekir's corner is flicked on at the near post by Fofana, but despite throwing himself at the ball Kone can only divert well wide of the target.
SUBSTITUTION: A final throw of the dice for Lyon as French youth international Ferri replaces Gonalons in midfield. Rennes have sat deep and challenged the hosts to break them down in this second half, inching ever closer to a well-earned point.
Lyon probe but are running out of time as Ferri's cross towards the far post runs behind harmlessly for a goal kick. Garde's side have and huffed and puffed but head into added time still goalless.
Rennes's defence gets a welcome breather as Kone concedes a corner after a stray interception, with hopeful appeals for handball against Fofana quickly turned away when the cross comes in.
Lacazette's touch just deserts him as he attempts to control Bedimo's cross towards the far post, and with that Lyon's last chance of forcing a winner is probably gone.
FULL TIME Lyon 0-0 Rennes
Well in the end the audible boos surrounding the Gerland tell their own story. Lyon dominated the second half but failed to break down a stubborn Rennes rearguard, who played for a point they claimed with relative ease. Gomis hitting the crossbar aside that was another frustrating night for Garde's men, who are now five without a win in all competitions.
That just about does it for Sports Mole's comprehensive coverage from Ligue 1 this weekend. Thanks for your time and be sure to stay in touch this week as the Champions League gets underway. Goodnight!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
