Stade Rennais FC claimed their first Ligue 1 McDonald's win of the season on Sunday 30 August 2026, edging newly promoted Le Mans FC 3-2 in a dramatic finish at Roazhon Park. The victory, reported by the club's official site www.staderennais.com, was sealed with a last-gasp goal.
The Rouge et Noir started strongly. Estéban Lepaul opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a precise finish. Valentin Rongier doubled the advantage in the 26th minute, seemingly putting the Bretons in control. However, the resilient visitors hit back immediately through Louis Mafouta, who pulled one back on the half-hour mark.
How did the match turn around?
The second half proved far more difficult for Stade Rennais FC. Louis Mafouta struck again in the 54th minute, drawing Le Mans level and silencing the home crowd. The promoted side, buoyed by the equaliser, applied sustained pressure on the Stade Rennais FC defence, creating several clear chances. The home goalkeeper was forced into important saves to keep his team in the game.
Who was the hero of the night?
Just as the match seemed destined for a draw, Estéban Lepaul emerged as the saviour. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90th+6 minute, the forward netted his second goal of the evening to secure all three points for Stade Rennais FC. This decisive double provides the club with valuable momentum after a mixed start to the campaign. The thrilling encounter was witnessed by 25,727 spectators at Roazhon Park.
What is the club's situation after this match?
This first win of the season gives Stade Rennais FC a boost in the early league standings. Supporters can track their team's progress on our standings page. The next challenge for Julien Stéphan's side is an away trip to face Olympique de Marseille, scheduled for Saturday 13 September 2026. All upcoming fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar.
The technical staff will need to analyse the defensive difficulties encountered in the second half, particularly against Le Mans' rapid counter-attacks. The squad composition for the coming matches can be viewed on the squad page. The match was officiated by referee Benoît Bastien, who issued four yellow cards in total.
