Rennes — opposition report

Ligue 1 2026/27 · 8 matches (2026-08-23 to 2026-10-25) · W5 D1 L2 · goals 18–14 · npxG 11.2–12.4 · WhoScored event data, every sequence rebuilt from the raw feed

Early season: built from 8 league matches. League ranks and splits move a lot at this stage — read them as provisional, and lean on the clips.

The short version

How to beat themgame plan

Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.

Set pieces

  1. Avoid conceding corners; mark Issa Soumaré first.

    35% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Issa Soumaré (4), Charlie Cresswell (3), Anthony Rouault (3).

Shape and structurein possession, by phase

Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Rennes attack left to right.

Brice Samba → Charlie Cresswell: 44Charlie Cresswell → Brice Samba: 35Brice Samba → Anthony Rouault: 26Anthony Rouault → Brice Samba: 23Przemyslaw Frankowski → Charlie Cresswell: 17Charlie Cresswell → Przemyslaw Frankowski: 16Brice Samba (GK) -- 218 touchesB. SambaCharlie Cresswell (CB) -- 214 touchesC. CresswellAboubakar Nagida / Quentin Merlin (FB) -- 135 touchesA. Nagida / Q. MerlinAnthony Rouault (CB) -- 113 touchesA. RouaultValentin Rongier (DM) -- 107 touchesV. RongierAbdelhamid Aït Boudlal (CB) -- 105 touchesA. BoudlalPrzemyslaw Frankowski (FB) -- 92 touchesP. FrankowskiAdrien Thomasson (AM) -- 78 touchesA. ThomassonMahdi Camara (WM) -- 56 touchesM. CamaraBryan Reynolds (FB) -- 39 touchesB. ReynoldsSebastian Szymanski (WM) -- 28 touchesS. Szymanski

attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone

Most involved
  • Brice Samba39% of build-up phases
  • Charlie Cresswell38% of build-up phases
  • Anthony Rouault21% of build-up phases
  • Valentin Rongier18% of build-up phases
Main connections
  • Brice Samba → Charlie Cresswell44
  • Charlie Cresswell → Brice Samba35
  • Brice Samba → Anthony Rouault26
  • Anthony Rouault → Brice Samba23
  • Przemyslaw Frankowski → Charlie Cresswell17
  • Charlie Cresswell → Przemyslaw Frankowski16

434 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.

Their pressout of possession

33defensive actions per match in the opponent's final 40%
48%of opponent build-ups got out into the next third
5.6high regains per match
18%of those regains led to a shot

Who presses

  • Valentin Rongier36
  • Issa Soumaré24
  • Mousa Al Tamari23
  • Adrien Thomasson23
  • Przemyslaw Frankowski22
  • Estéban Lepaul19

Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.

Every ball won in the opponent's third, by source

182 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 34 (4.2 a match).

sourcetimesshareper matchshot
press: settled build-up taken off them3016%3.810%
press: their restart forced into an error before they settled42%0.50%
counter-press: won straight back after losing it148%1.80%
second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it13474%16.829%
↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked)2112%2.629%
↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared5631%7.038%
↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away95%1.133%
↳ after their own throw-in / set piece137%1.68%
↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled)3519%4.423%

What triggers a regain

opponent wasshareleaguerank
passing forward20%26%14 / 18
dribbling or a loose touch20%28%17 / 18
passing to a full-back16%18%10 / 18
passing sideways11%6%2 / 18
going long9%6%6 / 18
taking a throw-in9%2%2 / 18
passing to the keeper7%2%2 / 18
passing back2%2%7 / 18
a loose ball0%0%1 / 18

Who got out, and how

0%25%50%75%100%0%25%50%75%share of build-ups that went longgot out of the pressPSG: got out 61%, went long 17% (18 build-ups)PSGStrasbourg: got out 55%, went long 32% (31 build-ups)StrasbourgAngers: got out 50%, went long 25% (24 build-ups)AngersParis FC: got out 50%, went long 14% (28 build-ups)Paris FCLyon: got out 46%, went long 38% (24 build-ups)Auxerre: got out 42%, went long 21% (19 build-ups)Le Mans: got out 39%, went long 56% (18 build-ups)Marseille: got out 38%, went long 25% (16 build-ups)

The opponents who went long most (38% of build-ups) got out 44% of the time; those who mostly played short (19% long) got out 51%. That is a lean, not proven at 20 matches (p=0.2403).

Best escapes: PSG 61%; Strasbourg 55%; Angers 50%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.

Transitions

When they win it

15.9fast attacks per match (counters, high transitions, high ball-wins)
21%end in a shot

Most often started by Valentin Rongier (17), Mahdi Camara (16), Sebastian Szymanski (10), Issa Soumaré (10).

Counter-press: losing it, by where

lost inlosseswon back within 5sled to a shot
own third4445%9%
midfield20529%8%
final third27730%1%

When they lose it — where the damage comes

25%54 attacks · 8 shots · 0.6 xG35%30 attacks · 11 shots · 0.8 xG40%77 attacks · 9 shots · 1.0 xG

20.1 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Rennes's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Rennes's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): right 40% conceded vs 30% own, centre 35% conceded vs 39% own, left 25% conceded vs 30% own.

Right
Centre
Left

Transition types

Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.

When they win the ball

typetimessharefastshotxG
Won high from a settled build-up (press)336%lg 5%52%12%lg 7%0.6
Won after their long possession (10+ passes)559%lg 11%5%2%lg 3%0.4
Won straight back after losing it (counter-press)6611%lg 12%36%9%lg 6%0.7
Won by stopping their counter224%lg 4%18%0%lg 0%0.0
Won in midfield16027%lg 24%28%6%lg 7%0.9
Won deep in own third22839%lg 36%14%4%lg 3%1.1
Won from their set piece244%lg 5%12%0%lg 0%0.0

When they lose the ball

typetimesshareopponent fastshot againstxG
Lost in own build-up under pressure396%lg 5%33%8%lg 8%0.2
Lost after own long possession (10+ passes)6110%lg 11%18%3%lg 3%0.2
Lost straight after winning it7312%lg 12%44%11%lg 7%0.8
Lost during own counter254%lg 4%4%0%lg 3%0.0
Lost in midfield16127%lg 25%35%10%lg 7%1.4
Lost in the final third (attack broke down)21035%lg 36%10%2%lg 3%0.3
Lost from own set piece346%lg 5%26%0%lg 3%0.0

Possessions and turnovers in detailsub-categories

Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.

24%of their turnovers the opponent turns into a fast attack · league 23%
50%Lost balls the opponent can’t keep · league 48%
4%of balls lost from settled possession lead to a shot against · league 5%
7%of balls lost from unsettled possession lead to a shot against · league 5%
22%of the balls they win become a fast attack · league 23%
5%of the balls they win produce a shot · league 5%

How they play their possessions (720 controlled open-play possessions)

typetimesshareended in a shotavg passes
sustained circulation (10+ passes)8812%lg 13%14%lg 12%14.6
worked possession (4-9 passes)20428%lg 29%12%lg 9%5.9
direct attack8312%lg 11%1%lg 3%1.6
short possession (0-3 passes)15021%lg 22%3%1.5

When they lose the ball (603 turnovers) — their rest defence

the side losing it was in…timesfast attacksecuredlost straight backcan’t keep itshotxGhow it was lost
sustained circulation (10+ passes)6422%8%6%50%5%0.2pass cut out 37, long ball lost 11
worked possession (4-9 passes)16018%9%9%57%4%0.5pass cut out 93, long ball lost 36
direct attack7125%18%10%41%4%0.3long ball lost 34, pass cut out 25
short possession (0-3 passes)13339%11%9%38%10%1.3pass cut out 70, bad touch 24
second-ball possession10618%10%3%59%7%0.5pass cut out 59, bad touch 15
counter / fast transition359%20%9%51%0%0.0pass cut out 26, failed dribble 7
set piece3426%12%3%50%0%0.0pass cut out 26, long ball lost 5

How they lose it

mechanismtimesshareled to a shot against
pass cut out33656%lg 53%5%
long ball lost12120%lg 20%2%
bad touch7012%lg 14%10%
failed dribble376%lg 6%3%
tackled / dispossessed335%lg 6%6%

When they win the ball (588 turnovers) — what they do with it

the opponent was in…timesfast attacksecuredlost straight backcan’t keep itshotxGhow it was lost
sustained circulation (10+ passes)587%12%10%64%3%0.7pass cut out 38, long ball lost 9
worked possession (4-9 passes)17320%12%8%54%4%0.6pass cut out 100, long ball lost 35
direct attack7225%14%7%44%10%1.0long ball lost 33, pass cut out 26
short possession (0-3 passes)13629%7%7%53%5%0.7pass cut out 66, long ball lost 34
second-ball possession9225%15%11%41%8%0.7pass cut out 50, long ball lost 17
counter / fast transition3321%9%9%58%3%0.1pass cut out 21, tackled / dispossessed 5
set piece2412%12%8%67%0%0.0pass cut out 17, bad touch 4

Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).

Phase by phase: the typessub-categories

Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.

Build-up: how it starts and how it gets out (200 build-ups)

typetimessharegot outreached the boxlost in build-upshot
from the keeper / goal kick, played out short3920%lg 18%72%28%23%13%
from the keeper / goal kick, went long (bypass)2211%lg 10%41%5%55%5%
from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled126%0%8%67%0%
from the back line, played out short2512%lg 10%60%16%32%4%
from the back line, went long (bypass)63%lg 4%17%17%67%0%
from the back line, stuck / recycled94%0%11%56%0%
from a throw-in, played out short105%lg 6%70%20%30%0%
from a throw-in, went long (bypass)94%lg 2%44%22%44%0%
straight after winning it, played out short3116%lg 18%61%16%35%3%
straight after winning it, went long (bypass)168%lg 8%50%12%50%0%
straight after winning it, stuck / recycled189%0%17%50%6%

Their press: what happens to every opponent build-up (195)

outcometimesshareopponent shot
won it high179%lg 11%0%
forced long, then won it back4825%lg 19%0%
forced long, they kept it63%lg 6%33%
they played through short7538%lg 36%11%
kept them stuck (recycled back)4925%lg 26%4%

Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).

Chance creation: what created their shots

created byshotsshare of open playxGxG per shotgoals
cross1313%lg 13%1.50.11lg 0.101
cutback66%lg 7%0.70.12lg 0.101
through ball66%lg 1%1.20.19lg 0.193
short pass / combination4951%lg 49%4.30.09lg 0.086
long ball44%lg 6%0.40.10lg 0.070
individual (dribble / self-made)66%lg 10%0.40.06lg 0.100
rebound / second ball1313%lg 10%1.20.09lg 0.101
corner (set piece)22–1.40.061
free kick (indirect) (set piece)4–0.20.050
direct free kick (set piece)1–0.00.020
throw-in (set piece)1–0.00.040
penalty (set piece)4–3.20.794

Chances they concede: what created the opponent's shots

created byshotssharexGxG per shotgoals
cross910%lg 13%1.80.202
cutback45%lg 6%0.40.091
through ball33%lg 3%0.70.231
short pass / combination5058%lg 49%5.10.104
long ball33%lg 6%0.20.061
individual (dribble / self-made)78%lg 11%0.50.070
rebound / second ball1012%lg 10%1.80.182
corner (set piece)21–1.50.071
free kick (indirect) (set piece)7–0.40.050
direct free kick (set piece)3–0.10.030
throw-in (set piece)2–0.10.050
penalty (set piece)2–1.60.792

How their shots end

endingshotsshare
goal1310%lg 10%
keeper held it1613%lg 11%
keeper parried it1512%lg 12%
blocked3629%lg 23%
off target4234%lg 39%
hit the woodwork32%

Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.

Keeper transitions

After their keeper held a shot (15), median release 14s; league share turned into a fast attack 8%:

their keeper held it, then…timesshare
keeper released fast -> fast attack00%
keeper released quickly, no fast attack17%
keeper slowed the game1493%

After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (16); league share broken against fast 8%:

the opponent keeper held it, then…timesshare
keeper released fast -> fast attack212%
keeper released quickly, no fast attack319%
keeper slowed the game1169%

Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.

When it breaks downevery phase

The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.

Build-up breaks down

149 balls lost in 434 build-up phases (34%)

giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 2.8/10 · league 2.5/10

How
  • long ball lost70
  • pass cut out54
  • bad touch14
  • tackled / dispossessed6
Where
  • right half-space36
  • left wing34
  • right wing30
  • centre29
Who
  • Charlie Cresswell31
  • Brice Samba23
  • Aboubakar Nagida14
  • Anthony Rouault12

What it costs: 34% turned into a fast attack · 48% the opponent can’t keep · 6% led to a shot · 0.8 xG

Progression breaks down

222 balls lost in 607 middle-third phases (37%)

giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 3.3/10 · league 2.8/10

How
  • pass cut out129
  • long ball lost36
  • bad touch28
  • tackled / dispossessed17
Where
  • right half-space63
  • left half-space50
  • left wing44
  • centre34
Who
  • Przemyslaw Frankowski29
  • Aboubakar Nagida24
  • Valentin Rongier20
  • Mousa Al Tamari19

What it costs: 27% turned into a fast attack · 44% the opponent can’t keep · 7% led to a shot · 1.2 xG

Final third breaks down

204 balls lost in 406 final-third phases (50%)

deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 45% · league 56%

How
  • pass cut out140
  • bad touch23
  • failed dribble19
  • long ball lost11
Where
  • centre79
  • left half-space49
  • right half-space33
  • left wing22
Who
  • Mousa Al Tamari28
  • Ludovic Blas22
  • Aboubakar Nagida22
  • Przemyslaw Frankowski19

What it costs: 11% turned into a fast attack · 59% the opponent can’t keep · 2% led to a shot · 0.5 xG

39 deliveries into the box did not arrive

Counter-attacks fail

35 of 57 counter-attacks lost (61%)

attacking transitions that produce a shot: 21% · league 17%

How
  • pass cut out26
  • failed dribble7
  • tackled / dispossessed1
  • long ball lost1
Where
  • centre14
  • left half-space10
  • right half-space8
  • right wing2
Who
  • Mousa Al Tamari9
  • Ludovic Blas5
  • Aboubakar Nagida4
  • Mahdi Camara3

What it costs: 9% turned into a fast attack · 51% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG

57 counters: 18 ended in a shot, 35 were lost, 4 slowed down or went out

Their press is beaten

86 of 178 opponent build-ups got out (48%)

opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 48% · league 49%

How
  • short pass50
  • carry19
  • long ball16
Where
  • right wing25
  • centre19
  • left wing16
  • right half-space16
Who
  • centre-back34
  • full-back17
  • central midfielder14
  • goalkeeper11

What it costs: 31% reached the final third · 13% led to a shot · 0.8 xG

Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.

Their block is broken

114 box entries in 487 opponent final-third phases (23%)

opponent final-third phases that create: 41% · league 48%

How
  • carry73
  • short pass22
  • dribble7
  • cross7
Where
  • right half-space39
  • centre36
  • left half-space30
  • right wing5
Who
  • winger35
  • striker20
  • central midfielder14
  • full-back13

What it costs: 46% led to a shot · 8.8 xG

Sides are their own.

Set pieces backfire

34 set pieces lost in open play

How
  • pass cut out26
  • long ball lost5
  • tackled / dispossessed2
  • bad touch1
Where
  • left wing11
  • centre9
  • left half-space6
  • right half-space6
Who
  • Aboubakar Nagida4
  • Charlie Cresswell3
  • Issa Soumaré3
  • Przemyslaw Frankowski3

What it costs: 26% turned into a fast attack · 50% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG

Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.

Set piecesattacking corners

43corners (5.4 per match)
35%end in a shot
0.9xG from corners

Delivery

  • near post42%shot 17% · 0.2 xG
  • central40%shot 53% · 0.6 xG
  • far post16%shot 43% · 0.1 xG
  • short2%shot 0% · 0.0 xG

Who

Takers: Adrien Thomasson (25), Sebastian Szymanski (12), Djaoui Cissé (4)

First contact in the box: Issa Soumaré (4), Charlie Cresswell (3), Anthony Rouault (3), Estéban Lepaul (2), Valentin Rongier (1)

Key players

What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.

Estéban LepaulST
  • gets it into the box 10 times (70% end in a shot)
  • 28 shots, 5.3 npxG, 7 goals
Mousa Al TamariW
  • gets it into the box 16 times (44% end in a shot)
  • 16 ball wins high up the pitch
  • 48 giveaways, 5 led to an opponent shot
Przemyslaw FrankowskiFB
  • takes it into the final third 20 times (55% become a chance)
  • gets it into the box 11 times (55% end in a shot)
Charlie CresswellCB
  • plays 33 build-up exits (55% carry on cleanly)
Valentin RongierDM
  • 17 ball wins high up the pitch
Ludovic BlasW
  • gets it into the box 10 times (60% end in a shot)
Aboubakar NagidaFB
  • 58 giveaways, 3 led to an opponent shot
Adrien ThomassonAM
  • gets it into the box 12 times (42% end in a shot)
  • 16 ball wins high up the pitch
Sebastian SzymanskiWM
  • gets it into the box 10 times (20% end in a shot)

Where a player changes the outcome (p<0.05)

Against the leaguesupporting evidence

The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 18 Ligue 1 clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 8 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.

behaviourRennesleague medianrankmatches
stylebetween the lines per 100 progression phases2.3/1001.1/1001 / 187/8
stylelayoff per 100 progression phases1.8/1000.7/1001 / 186/8
stylecutback per 100 final third phases5.7/1003.5/1002 / 186/8
styleforward drop link per 100 progression phases0.2/1001.2/10018 / 188/8
stylebox entries with a short pass32%23%1 / 187/8
styleunderlap per 100 progression phases3.1/1001.7/1002 / 187/8
weaknessballs they won but can't keep (cleared, blocked, lost loose)52%47%1 / 186/8
weaknessxG conceded from settled attacks0.77 xG0.59 xG1 / 185/8
strengthopponent final-third phases that created41%48%17 / 185/8
strengthfinal-third giveaways regained within 5s30%24%2 / 186/8
weaknessmiddle-third giveaways per 10 middle-third phases3.3/102.8/102 / 186/8
stylefinal-third entries played by a full-back36%23%2 / 186/8
weaknessnon-penalty xG conceded1.55 xG1.25 xG2 / 185/8
stylefinal-third entries played by a midfielder (DM/CM)13%23%17 / 187/8
styleswitch of play per 100 progression phases2.8/1004.6/10017 / 187/8
stylebuild-up exits played by a midfielder (DM/CM)6%12%17 / 186/8
strengthdeliveries into the box that failed to arrive45%56%17 / 187/8
Their most dangerous routes
phaseroutetimesshottheir average
How they change against different opponents
splitbehaviourabp
when leading vs when levelbuild-ups that carried on into the next third under control40%58%0.0391
when trailing vs when levelgiveaways regained within 5s (counter-press)23%35%0.0362
second half vs first halffinal-third entries by carrying it in28%12%0.0223
The 8 matches
dateopponentresultnpxGopponent presswhat happened
2026-08-23vs PSGD 2-20.7–1.5pressed aggressivelyDrew 2-2 (0.66 v 1.51 xG). PSG pressed harder than a typical Ligue 1 side does (strict PPDA 10.7, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 9%, far below their usual 37%.
2026-08-30vs Le MansW 3-22.1–1.7sat deep / passiveWon 3-2, chances 2.11 v 1.72 xG. Le Mans defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 19.1, league median 14.4) and went long on 62% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: ball given away during build-up 6.0/match, far below their usual 15.4/match.
2026-09-06at AngersW 2-11.5–1.9mid-intensity pressWon 2-1 on fewer chances (1.48 v 1.85 xG). Angers pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 17.9, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s 0%, far below their usual 4%.
2026-09-11vs MarseilleW 1-01.7–1.1mid-intensity pressWon 1-0, chances 1.73 v 1.08 xG. Marseille pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.5, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: middle-third phases that progressed into the final third 82%, far above their usual 68%.
2026-09-19at LyonL 0-41.1–2.3mid-intensity pressLost 0-4 and the chances agreed (1.11 v 2.29 xG). Lyon pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 12.8, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s 9%, far above their usual 4%.
2026-10-11vs AuxerreW 4-12.0–0.8mid-intensity pressWon 4-1, chances 1.99 v 0.75 xG. Auxerre pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 17.2, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: counter-attacks 3.0/match, far below their usual 6.1/match.
2026-10-18at Paris FCL 3-40.8–2.4mid-intensity pressLost 3-4 and the chances agreed (0.81 v 2.36 xG). Paris FC pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.5, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 25%, far below their usual 36%.
2026-10-25vs StrasbourgW 3-01.3–0.9mid-intensity pressWon 3-0, chances 1.34 v 0.87 xG. Strasbourg pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 16.7, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: PPDA, strict (opponent passes in their own 60% per committed ball-winning action) 10.9, far below their usual 14.2.

Method and limits

◀ Tactical Analyst
Vision AI · building report