Rennes and Monaco face contrasting fortunes in summer friendlies

Rennes triumphs over Club Bruges, Monaco suffers defeat in Lisbon

In their latest preseason outing, Stade Rennais showcased their attacking prowess with a 2-1 victory over Belgian champions Club Bruges. Monaco, meanwhile, endured a tough night in Portugal, falling to a 2-0 loss against Sporting CP, while Strasbourg also stumbled in a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

Rennes continues strong preseason run

Stade Rennais has established itself as a team to watch this summer, following their opening win against Guingamp. On Saturday, they faced a stern test against Club Bruges, a side that claimed the Belgian top flight last season. The match at the Roazhon Park saw Estéban Lepaul and Issa Soumaré shine once again. Lepaul, Ligue 1’s top scorer from the previous campaign, struck just before halftime—his third goal in pre-season action—before Soumaré, a summer arrival from Le Havre, sealed the victory in stoppage time.

Despite a late consolation goal for Club Bruges, Rennes held firm. Their young goalkeeper Kilian Belazzoug, aged just 20, made a crucial penalty save, preserving the win. The Bretons now turn their attention to a clash with Galatasaray on August 2, aiming to maintain their momentum ahead of the new season.

Monaco struggles in Lisbon against Sporting CP

AS Monaco endured a frustrating evening in Lisbon, where they suffered a second consecutive preseason defeat, this time at the hands of Sporting CP. The absence of key players, including Balogun, Camara, Zakaria, and Akliouche, as well as former star Paul Pogba, left a noticeable gap in their squad. Under the guidance of Filipe Luís on the bench, Monaco struggled to impose themselves despite fielding a strong lineup featuring Lukas Hradecky, the defensive pairing of Kehrer and Dier, and attackers like Mika Biereth and Aleksandr Golovin.

The turning point came in the 54th minute when Sporting’s Rafael Nel headed in, followed by a curling effort from Jesse Derry in the 68th minute. Hradecky made a crucial save from the crossbar late on, preventing a heavier defeat, but Monaco’s lack of cohesion proved costly. They will look to bounce back next week against Cercle Bruges.

Strasbourg’s woes continue against Blackburn Rovers

Racing Club de Strasbourg suffered a second consecutive preseason loss, this time to England’s Blackburn Rovers. After conceding an own goal from Andrew Omobamidele, Strasbourg showed flashes of resilience, with goalkeeper Milosz Piekutowski making key stops. However, their attack lacked cutting edge, highlighted by a missed penalty from Samuel Amo-Ameyaw, who had won the spot-kick himself. Blackburn sealed the win late with a long-range strike from Todd Cantwell, leaving Strasbourg to regroup ahead of their league opener against Marseille.