Rennes beats Lyon 3-0 in Ligue 1

Rennes secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Lyon in the French league on Sunday, showcasing their strength early in the season. The match began with Benjamin Bourigeaud scoring a deflected free kick in the 19th minute, quickly followed by Amine Gouiri doubling the lead just a minute later through a swift counterattack. Danish striker Henrik Meister, who joined Rennes this summer, capped off the impressive performance with a stoppage-time goal. Lyon, despite significant investment in the transfer market, continues to struggle following a disappointing previous season. The team’s new forward, Georges Mikautadze, who was signed for 18.5 million euros after a standout Euro 2024 campaign, missed a crucial penalty during the match. Additionally, central defender Moussa Niakhaté, acquired for 32 million euros from Nottingham Forest, was responsible for two of the goals conceded, highlighting defensive frailties. In other Ligue 1 action, Auxerre marked their return to the top flight with a thrilling 2-1 win against Nice at Stade de l’Abbé Deschamps. After Nice initially took the lead with a header from Mohamed-Ali Cho, Auxerre equalized through Rayan Raveloson before Lasso Coulibaly netted the winner in stoppage time. Elsewhere, Lens edged past promoted Angers with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a first-half goal from Wesley Saïd, while Toulouse and Nantes played to a goalless draw, and Montpellier and Strasbourg shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.