MATCH REPORT | Rennes and Olympiacos see out scoreless draw to continue unbeaten Europa League starts

MATCH REPORT | Rennes and Olympiacos see out scoreless draw to continue unbeaten Europa League starts UEFA Europa League, Matchday 3, 04/11/26 Stade Rennais and Olympiacos saw out a goalless draw (0-0) in the UEFA Europa League as both continued their unbeaten start to this season’s competition in unspectacular fashion. After conceding five goals in Nice on Friday, questions were asked of the Rennes defence. Those questions were also posed by the Olympiacos attack. Within 60 seconds, Armando Gonzalez had an unmarked header that he couldn’t quite direct goalwards. Shortly after, Brice Samba was tested, the France international keeping Gustavo Puerta’s effort from a close angle out with a little help from his near post. By the 20-minute mark, the visitors had had five attempts on goal. Rennes, meanwhile, were struggling to get out, but placed their hopes in the legs of roadrunner Moussa Al-Taamari. The Jordanian was Les Rennais’ route out of trouble and up the pitch. He was found increasingly regularly as the Breton club grew into the game. Charlie Cresswell’s header was the first effort to test Stefan Ortega; it marked a shift. Rennes follow in Marseille’s footsteps Sébastien Szymanski, in form, attempted an audacious free-kick to the near post, finding the side netting. Al-Taamari then struck the near post with an effort from a tight angle, although he was adjudged to have been offside, and he was once again beyond the last defender when he lured Bruno Onyemaechi into a comical own goal. Despite not touching the ball, the Rennes forward made a clear attempt to play it. Olympique de Marseille learnt that this Olympiacos defence are hard to unsettle. Despite coming out for the second half with more intent, creating clear sights at goal remained an issue. Al-Taamari had the best sighting just before the hour mark, but couldn’t find the target with his sliced effort. As the second half progressed, it began to more closely resemble the first, with Al-Taamari leading the charge but Olympiacos dominating the ball and procuring the chances. Gelson Martins put his free header straight at Samba, and Roman Yaremchuk put his contested header just over the Frenchman’s bar. Al-Taamari leads the revolt… in vain Al-Taamari continued to lead his one-man mission. Esteban Lepaul, injured, looked on from the stands. His goalscoring instincts were sorely missing here. Olympiacos’ forwards also failed to grab this game by the scruff of the neck. Both sides seemed content to take a point. Valentin Rongier finally forced Ortega into a big save in injury time as the game ephemerally sparked into life in the dying stages, rousing Roazhon Park from their stupor. Moments later, the stands emptied with the game ending in a stalemate. “We did a great job. Olympiacos are a good team. We pushed in the second half, but we take the one point. It isn’t bad ,” was Al-Tamaari’s post-match analysis. GFFN | Luke Entwistle