Ligue 1: Rennes Stuns Lyon with Dramatic 3-1 Comeback Victory

Rennes scores two stoppage-time goals

Rennes pulls off an incredible comeback against Lyon, scoring two stoppage-time goals to win 3-1. Read more.

Lyon had a golden chance to extend their lead just after the hour mark. Adam Karabec displayed impressive...

Rennes staged a dramatic comeback against Lyon, scoring two stoppage-time goals to secure a 3-1 victory. This win prevented Lyon from matching Paris Saint-Germain's perfect start to the season and marked only the second time Rennes has prevented Lyon from winning their first four matches of a Ligue 1 season.

Lyon took the lead in the 14th minute, courtesy of a well-directed header from Corentin Tolisso. Ainsley Maitland-Niles delivered a precise cross that Tolisso met with a powerful header, giving Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba little chance. Despite Lyon's early advantage, Rennes pushed hard for an equalizer, with Habib Beye's men creating several scoring opportunities.

The game's turning point came when Tyler Morton was sent off for a reckless tackle on Kader Meïté, leaving Lyon to defend their slender lead. However, Rennes capitalized on the numerical advantage, equalizing through Anthony Rouault's scramble after Quentin Merlin's corner. In stoppage time, Rennes sealed the win with two goals, the first attributed to Rémy Descamps as an own goal after Meïté's effort, and the second a header from Meïté himself off Musa El-Taamari's cross.

The match saw Rennes dominate possession in the second half, creating multiple scoring chances. Lyon's defeat means they trail Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 standings. Rennes now looks to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures.

Rennes stepped up the pace, with Habib Beye's team demanding a penalty twice in quick succession, but both appeals were rejected by the referee. The second appeal saw Galatasaray loanee Przemysław Frankowski cautioned for diving, sparking tension on the pitch. Despite the controversy, Rennes continued to push forward, creating scoring opportunities.

Lyon nearly gifted Rennes an own goal when Andrew Maitland-Niles' poorly weighted pass back to the goalkeeper was intercepted by debutant Esteban Lepaul. However, Lepaul's promising opportunity slipped away as his shot sailed agonizingly wide of goalkeeper Rémy Descamps' post, leaving Rennes to breathe a sigh of relief.

Rennes' Khalis Merah had two promising chances to score, but he hesitated in both situations, ultimately wasting the opportunities. Despite Tanner Tessmann's excellent ball into the box, Merah's efforts were thwarted twice by Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes' impressive saves. Meanwhile, Rennes continued to push forward, looking for the equalizing goal.

At half-time, Rennes manager Julien Stéphan made a double substitution to try and turn the game around. This tactical move aimed to inject fresh energy into the team and create new attacking opportunities. In contrast, Lyon's Paulo Fonseca, who was serving the final match of his six-month ban from the dressing room for dissent, would have been relatively pleased with his team's performance at the break, despite the missed chances.

Lyon had a golden chance to extend their lead just after the hour mark. Adam Karabec displayed impressive quick feet but ultimately saw his close-range effort gathered easily by Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba. The tame shot was a letdown given the promising circumstances.

Rennes gained new energy with fresh substitutions, and one of them nearly made an immediate impact. 17-year-old Mohamed Kader Meïté's side-footer was pushed behind by Lyon goalkeeper Rémy Descamps, denying the teenager a debut goal. Despite the missed chance, Rennes continued to push forward, determined to find the equalizer.

RENNES COMPLETES A CRAZY COMEBACK OVER LYON 🔴⚫️ pic.twitter.com/vKQDLv1egU

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 14, 2025

The game's momentum shifted dramatically when Tyler Morton was sent off for a reckless challenge from behind on Mohamed Kader Meïté. This red card left Lyon vulnerable, and Rennes capitalized on the numerical advantage. Rennes equalized when Anthony Rouault scrambled home from Quentin Merlin's corner, leveraging the man advantage to level the score.

In stoppage time, Rennes sealed the win with two goals. The first was credited as an own goal by Rémy Descamps after Meïté's effort at the near post, and the second came when Meïté headed home Musa El-Taamari's cross. This win extended Rennes' impressive head-to-head record against Lyon, marking their 10th consecutive match without a draw in this fixture.