Rennes 3-0 Strasbourg: Szymanski’s Double Seals Convincing Home Win

Match report

Rennes claimed a 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg at Roazhon Park, building their lead before the interval and completing a controlled result after the restart. Boulaye Dia opened the scoring in the 34th minute, with the goal awarded after a VAR review, before Sebastian Szymanski struck in the 41st and again in the 61st.

The scoreline reflected Rennes’ decisive edge in the moments that mattered. Strasbourg had 53% possession, made 536 passes to Rennes’ 476 and recorded more attacks (111 to 100) as well as more dangerous attacks (44 to 34). But Rennes produced 15 shots to Strasbourg’s 12, put five on target, and converted all three goals of the game.

Rennes take charge before half-time

The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute. Dia finished with his right foot from Przemyslaw Frankowski’s assist, although the goal was briefly subject to a VAR review before being confirmed. It was a pivotal moment in a match that had remained scoreless through the opening half-hour.

Seven minutes later, Rennes extended the advantage. Szymanski finished with his left foot after Mahamadou Nagida’s assist to make it 2-0. Two goals in seven minutes gave the home side a substantial cushion going into the interval.

Strasbourg had shown a willingness to carry the ball, completing 12 successful dribbles from 24 attempts, compared with Rennes’ four from 13. They also won four corners and delivered 21 crosses, against Rennes’ two corners and eight crosses. Yet the visitors could not turn that territorial activity into a goal.

Szymanski completes the job

Strasbourg made their first change at the start of the second half, bringing on Yaya Diémé for Dário Essugo. Rennes, however, found the game’s final goal on 61 minutes. Szymanski met Mousa Tamari’s assist with a left-footed finish, completing his double and putting the outcome beyond doubt.

Rennes then used all five substitutions, with Dia and Tamari leaving in the 64th minute, Nagida replaced in the 71st, and Szymanski and Mahdi Camara withdrawn in the 78th. Strasbourg also made five changes, but there was no alteration to the scoreline.

The home defence had a meaningful role in the clean sheet. Rennes made 18 interceptions to Strasbourg’s seven, won 52 duels to 49 and completed 14 successful tackles. Brice Samba made three saves, while Strasbourg goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen made two.

Efficiency separates the sides

The key contrast was in the finishing of clear openings. Both teams created two big chances, but Rennes missed none while Strasbourg missed both. Rennes also registered three assists, one for each goal: Frankowski for Dia, Nagida for Szymanski’s first, and Tamari for his second.

Szymanski was officially named Player of the Match with a rating of 8.77. His two-goal contribution was the defining individual display, while Charlie Cresswell earned a 7.91 rating and Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal posted 7.68 in a Rennes back line that did not concede.

Strasbourg’s numbers offered signs of sustained involvement—more possession, passes, corners, crosses and dangerous attacks—but the final result belonged emphatically to Rennes. The home team converted its strong spells into a two-goal first-half lead, added a third after the break, and closed out a clean-sheet win.