Jota snatches a point for Rennes in Brest

Following the international break, Matchday 8 of Ligue 1 McDonald's continued on Saturday afternoon with a Breton derby as Stade Brestois 29 hosted Stade Rennais at the Stade Francis-Le Blé.

Short-handed Brest take the lead

Missing four key players in Bradley Locko, Abdallah Sima, Massadio Haïdara and Ibrahim Salah, and with an eye on European football, manager Éric Roy was forced to make some changes, but having recently welcomed a return for Pierre Lees-Melou, he maintained his familiar 4-3-3, while Rennes, despite having lost Leo Østigard to injury, kept faith with a 3-4-3. 

The hosts, despite their absences, started the match the brighter, and had a host of chances to take the lead in the first half, with Steve Mandanda's blushes being saved by his cross bar on a powerful shot by Mahdi Camara. Early in the second half, their pressure would tell, though, as they won a penalty which was duly converted by Romain Del Castillo. Desperate for a point which would allow his side to at least keep touch with the European places, Julien Stéphan threw on a raft of attacking players to turn the tide, making a trio of positive changes with Albert Grøenbaek, Andrés Gomez and Jota, the last of whom would make the difference in the match.

FIRST JOTA GOAL WITH RENNES! 🇵🇹🔥 pic.twitter.com/wEXa5QHiHN

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 19, 2024

Jota proves decisive

Still yet to start since arriving in the summer from the Middle East, Jota would help his side snatch a point after coming off the bench. With five minutes to play, the former Celtic star bundled home a cross from Arnaud Kalimuendo to level the match and leave the hosts, who had played with plenty of enterprise, stunned. With the point, Rennes are provisionally twelfth, while Brest are ninth.

Brest are next in action in Ligue 1 McDonald's on Saturday, away to Stade de Reims, but will first square off against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League, hosting the German champions in Wednesday's early kick-off. As for Rennes, they next play at home on Friday against Le Havre as they look to break what's become a four-match winless streak in the league. 

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