Esteban Lepaul has solidified his status as a key scorer for Stade Rennais FC with three goals in the first two Ligue 1 matches of the season. The 24-year-old striker, a classic penalty-box poacher, is also expanding his involvement in team play, according to a report by Le Télégramme this Saturday.
How is Lepaul scoring his goals?
Lepaul started his account with a brace against Le Mans on the opening day, kickstarting Stade Rennais FC' campaign. His third goal came in last week's 2-1 win over PSG, a powerfully struck penalty that has become his trademark. His former coach at Angers, Alexandre Dujeux, now at Lorient, highlighted his qualities. "He has an incredible sense for goal. He has proven it and continues to develop it by working," said Dujeux, who gave him his Ligue 1 debut in August 2024.
The Stade Rennais FC forward possesses a rare profile in modern football, favoring efficiency and instinct in the box over pure physical power. This season, he is the starting centre-forward in Franck Haise's 4-2-3-1 system. The full roster is available on our squad page.
How is his all-round game evolving?
During the summer preparation, Lepaul worked to become a more effective link in collective moves. A telling example was his headed flick to set up Thomasson against PSG. His hold-up play has also been valuable, such as when he laid the ball off for Soumaré in the build-up to Rongier's chance against Le Mans. "There's huge progress on that," the player acknowledged after his brace. This added dimension is monitored by his coach, who watches his commitment in training.
What future for Lepaul with the French national team?
His form has revived talk of a potential call-up to the France squad. Alexandre Dujeux believes it would be a "logical next step". Lepaul, however, remains grounded. "I want to win matches with Stade Rennais FC, I want to score goals," he stated, adding he had "no worries in my head" about a selection. His immediate focus remains on club performance.
With three goals, he is currently among the league's top scorers. The collective momentum of Stade Rennais FC, third in the standings with six points, partly relies on his efficiency. The club's trajectory can be followed on our standings page.
The next challenge for Lepaul and his teammates is the trip to Angers this Sunday, September 13th at 5:15 PM, a fixture listed in our fixtures calendar. The former Angers player will have a chance to shine against his old club.
