Stade Rennais FC returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 with a 4-1 victory over AJ Auxerre at Roazhon Park on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The comprehensive win, sealed by a late Boulaye Dia brace, ended a run of three consecutive league defeats.
Head coach Franck Haise immediately highlighted his team's character. "We bounced back after that heavy defeat at Lyon and a first half that wasn’t good enough," he said. The manager acknowledged room for improvement but stressed the essential three points. "We’ve still got a lot of progress to make, but we’re on 13 points after 6 matches," he added. The victory keeps Stade Rennais FC on a solid early-season pace.
A collective response
The match did not start ideally. Estéban Lepaul opened the scoring with a precise strike in the 15th minute, but Cameron Archer equalised for Auxerre ten minutes later. A first-half performance deemed insufficient by the coaching staff led to a stern half-time talk. "It was a tough one; we were given a bit of a dressing-down at half-time," confirmed striker Boulaye Dia. The awakening after the break was clear. Adrien Thomasson restored Stade Rennais FC' lead in the 53rd minute before Dia secured the points with two goals in added time (90+2 and 90+4).
Haise also praised the impact of the substitutes and defensive solidity late on, mentioning a "crucial save" from goalkeeper Brice. In a context where the international break deprived the squad of thirteen players, this emphatic win and the contribution from the whole group are encouraging signs. The coach reiterated the need to rely on more than fourteen players over a full season, especially with European ambitions.
This success halts a negative run of five matches without a win in all competitions (LLLDL). The team can now approach its next fixture, a home game against OFI on Thursday 15 October, with more confidence. Also, scorer Estéban Lepaul confirms his fine form as the club's top scorer this season with four goals in six appearances. The squad will still be without the sidelined Quentin Merlin and Antoine Nordin.
The priority is now to build on this positive momentum and string performances together. The objective is clear for Franck Haise and his players: capitalise on this emphatic win to gather points before the next break.
More detail at staderennais.com
The club confirmed that the 4-1 victory over Auxerre has moved Stade Rennais back into the top three of Ligue 1. Manager Franck Haise highlighted the value of the win. "It's a victory built on patience and teamwork," said the coach. This result comes after a run of three consecutive league defeats. The next fixture is scheduled for October 15.
