Rennes survive Le Mans scare and get first win via Lepaul late pen

Rennes had to fight all the way against newly promoted Le Mans. Even after leading 2-0, the home side ended up needing a late moment to secure their first win of the season, as reported by L’Équipe.

Momentum shifts

Rennes set the tone early: Estéban Lepaul got them ahead inside the first ten minutes (5’), and then Valentin Rongier doubled the lead with a long-range effort that went in off the post (26’). But Le Mans stayed in the contest and Louis Mafouta pulled one back with a close-range finish (30’).

After the break, the game swung again. According to L’Équipe, Rennes’ control faded when Mafouta converted a penalty for 2-2, awarded after a handball in the area (54’). Rennes pushed in the closing stages, yet Ludovic Blas struck the woodwork from a rebound inside the box (87’).

Late penalty decides

The breakthrough arrived in stoppage time. Rennes won a penalty after a handball by Noa Boissé in the area, and Estéban Lepaul scored to seal the comeback victory and take the score to 3-2 (90’+6). It was also Lepaul’s second goal of the match and his third of the season.

Le Mans were left frustrated too: as L’Équipe notes, they had another penalty waved/considered after a VAR check but it was rejected for offside (90’+15). The match also saw a big disciplinary moment—Djibril Sidibé came on at 68’ and was shown a red card just 42 seconds later for a late challenge that caught Lepaul’s ankle.