Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Match 7, 18/10/2026
Four penalties would be unevenly shared between Paris FC and Stade Rennais in a rollercoaster affair. Paris would come out on top with a 4-3 win to go joint top of the table (with Paris Saint-Germain, Lille OSC, AS Monaco, and possibly Olympique Lyonnais).
The Match
Neither team were bothered with sizing their opposition up. They instead flew straight into the proceedings, giving the early exchanges an open feel. Rennes quickly found themselves on the back foot and retreated, with Paris taking control of the ball and moving it smoothly across the pitch.
Les Parisiens would be gifted an opener in the 11th minute when Rennes got themselves in disarray attempting to play out from the back. Ludovic Blas would collect the ball from deep from Brice Samba, and instantly find himself under pressure as Lassine Sinayoko and Adama Camara closed ranks. Sinayoko would play the ball on to Maxime Lopez, who fired past Samba to give Paris a deserved lead.
Rennes had come into the season as many people’s favourites to be the best of the rest in Ligue 1, but they’ve yet to live up to their billing. They were struggling against a dynamic Paris side, and needed a helping hand to level the scores. Pierre Lees-Melou would take out Esteban Lepaul in the area, giving Rennes a penalty just before the half-hour mark. Lepaul stepped up and dispatched the spot kick. It would be Rennes’ first shot on target in the game.
On the stroke of half-time, Paris would once again go ahead when Sinnayoko found Lopez at the back post. The midfielder was unmarked and only had to hit the ball into the empty net. He would hit the post, but would cross the line on the rebound.
Franck Haise would make three changes at half-time, taking off Adrien Thomasson, Przemysław Frankowski, and Blas, with Valentin Rongier, Mahamadou Nagida, and Mousa Al Tamari coming on. Rennes would be fired up after the break and looked to restore parity when Sebastian Szymański fired past Kevin Trapp from outside the box. However, it would be chalked off for a foul from Djaoui Cissé on Ilan Kebbal during the build-up.
Rennes would continue with the pressure, and it would eventually earn them a just reward when Al Tamari was brought down by Samir Chergui in a reckless bit of defending. Lepaul stepped up to the spot and claimed his brace by sending Trapp diving in the wrong direction. Parity would last just a couple of minutes before Sinayoko restored Paris’s lead with an overhead kick.
Paris would endeavour to throw away the three points. The substitute Otávio, on for the injured Hamed Traoré, would handle the ball in the area from a corner and give Lepaul the chance to go to the spot for the third time. The striker claimed his hat-trick, with Trapp never getting close to stopping the shots.
There would be time for one last twist/penalty in the tale. When Rongier felled Sinayoko in the box. The referee would have a lengthy review at the pitchside monitor before pointing to the spot. Sinayoko would step up and dispatch the fourth penalty of the evening and Paris’s first to give his side all three points.
Paris FC Player Ratings
Kevin Trapp, 4
A good save at the end to deny Rennes from winning the game, but you have to be concerned by his duel with Lepaul.
Hamari Traoré, 5
Diego Coppola, 5
Samir Chergui, 4
Adama Camara, 8
Perhaps liable to go under the radar, the midfielder turned right-back was excellent. Defensively solid when Paris don’t have the ball, and an excellent option when in possession. His late transformation into a defender has made him an asset.
Pierre Lees-Melou, 4
Maxime Lopez, 8
Luca Koleosho, 5
Pablo Pagis, 7
Ilan Kebbal, 7
Lassine Sinayoko, 9
Stunning game from the striker, who registered two assists and two goals to give Paris a deserved win.
Rennes Player Ratings
Brice Samba, 4
Przemysław Frankowski, 3
Replaced at half-time by Mahamadou Nagida (4).Anthony Rouault, 4
Charlie Cresswell, 4
Adrien Thomasson, 3
On a booking in the first half and really could have been sent off if not for the referee showing some leniency. Replaced at half-time by the captain Valentin Rongier (4).
Djaoui Cissé, 5
Sebastian Szymański, 5
Issa Soumaré, 4
Esteban Lepaul, 7
A rating won from the spot. In truth, he didn’t do much else in the game. Still, when you need a spot-kicker, you’d find few better! A bit of a concern at the end of the game when he limped off injured.
Ludovic Blas, 2
A terrible first half for the winger, who lost possession for the first goal and offered very little threat. He was also replaced at half-time with Mousa Al Tamari(6) coming on.