Reinildo Shines as Sunderland Intensifies Preseason Against Rennes
This was billed as another preseason tune-up, but Sunderland treated Rennes to something far more serious: a sharp, committed display built on aggression without the ball and real intent with it. At the heart of it all, Reinildo produced a Man of the Match performance that made one thing clear – Dayann Methalie will have a real battle on his hands when he arrives.
Roefs calm, defence mostly in control
Robin Roefs barely broke sweat for long spells. He had no chance with a superbly taken penalty and, aside from that, Rennes rarely stretched him. There was an early scare, a wide-open chance that should at least have tested him, but the shot flew off target. With the ball at his feet, though, Roefs showed why he is trusted in this set-up, coolly spinning away from pressure in the opening exchanges and setting the tone for Sunderland’s build-up. A solid 6/10.
Trai Hume, back in a more orthodox right-back role, tightened things up defensively. Sunderland lost a bit of their usual control in the first half as a result of the shape tweak, but Hume did his primary job well and still found time to affect the game at the other end. Another well-timed arrival in the box, another goal – a composed finish from around eight yards after a set-piece routine. A dependable, productive 7/10.
Dan Ballard lived a busier life than he might have wanted. He defended strongly for the most part and was a constant menace in the Rennes box when he went up for set pieces, getting on the end of several deliveries. Yet his afternoon was marked by two big lapses: an early surge out of defence ended with him losing the ball and watching a lob drift just wide, and later he conceded a sloppy penalty. Those moments drag him back to 6/10.
Alongside him, Luke O’Nien enjoyed a relatively comfortable day defensively but still had to stay switched on. One dangerous cross looked destined to be headed in until he reacted brilliantly to glance it over his own bar from close range. On the ball he was expansive, spraying some excellent passes out of defence and whipping in one outstanding cross that Reinildo could only steer wide. Composed and constructive, a strong 7/10.
Reinildo dominates both ends
On the left, Reinildo was relentless. Rennes found nothing easy down his side; he shut off angles, read danger early and produced a string of sharp recovery tackles whenever the French side threatened to break through. That alone would have been enough to catch the eye.
But he added far more.
Driving forward with purpose, he repeatedly overlapped Chemsdine Talbi and offered a constant outlet. One such run led to a good effort that took a deflection wide. Another saw him stretch to meet O’Nien’s superb cross, only to send his effort just off target. Later, he surged onto a Chris Rigg delivery and forced a brilliant save from Brice Samba. On another day, he walks off with at least one goal.
In a week when his position is under threat from the imminent arrival of Methalie, this was a statement. Aggressive, polished, dangerous. An emphatic 8/10 and clear Man of the Match.
Xhaka steady, midfield engine keeps running
Granit Xhaka did exactly what Sunderland brought him in to do. From the base of midfield he dictated tempo, always available, always tidy, and occasionally piercing Rennes with clever, vertical passing. A couple of those defence-splitting balls were inches away from sending a teammate clear. It was the familiar metronomic rhythm from the captain, good for a 7/10.
Alongside him, Noah Sadiki delivered the kind of all-action shift that has quickly become his trademark. He covered huge swathes of the pitch, plugging gaps at the back, then driving up the left whenever space opened. His energy underpinned Sunderland’s press and their transitions. Another quietly vital 7/10.
Chemsdine Talbi offered honest industry on that flank. He produced some sharp bursts down the left and, whenever he got into crossing positions, his first instinct was to whip the ball into the box rather than take defenders on himself. It was a functional rather than spectacular outing, a 6/10.
Enzo Le Fee floated wherever the game needed him. He popped up in pockets all over the pitch, constantly making himself an option and knitting play together. When he carried the ball, Rennes struggled to contain his movement, with a few classy runs opening space and questions for their back line. A clever, influential 7/10.
Angulo and Brobbey stretch Rennes
Nilson Angulo had one of those frustrating-but-promising afternoons. He lit up the right side at times, driving at his marker and working hard when Sunderland didn’t have the ball. His diagonal runs were a real outlet, yet his timing let him down too often, with several offsides killing promising situations after good switches of play found him in space. A bright but imperfect 6/10.
Brian Brobbey, by contrast, made his presence felt in a more direct way. He bullied the visiting defence, never far from a tussle, always asking questions with his runs in behind. His goal summed up his performance: he burst clear, saw his first effort saved, then simply shrugged off the defender and slid the rebound home. Physical, persistent, effective. A deserved 7/10.
Bench injects spark
The changes did not blunt Sunderland; they sharpened them.
Romaine Mundle looked like a player walking a little taller. Perhaps the new contract talk has lifted him, because he came on brimming with confidence and intent. He ran at defenders, drove straight for goal and very nearly produced the moment of the match, crashing a superb free-kick off the crossbar. Lively, dangerous, and well worth a 7/10.
Chris Rigg continued his eye-catching preseason. Physically, he looks more ready now, and he wasted no time making an impact after coming on. His delivery from the right was excellent, with one quality cross finding Reinildo, who was denied only by Samba’s brilliance. Another impressive 7/10.
Habib Diarra slotted in neatly next to Xhaka, essentially mirroring Sadiki’s role. He kept the structure intact, moved the ball sensibly and offered balance without needing to dominate the game. A steady 6/10.
Wilson Isidor played right on the shoulder of the Rennes defence, constantly threatening to dart in behind. Even when he didn’t receive the ball, his movement dragged defenders away and opened lanes for teammates. It was unselfish, intelligent work, earning him a 6/10.
Jocelin Ta Bi brought a different kind of flair on the right. He produced a few eye-catching dribbles where the ball seemed glued to his boots, twisting away from challenges and keeping Sunderland on the front foot. Another tidy 6/10.
A left-back who won’t step aside quietly
Preseason can drift. This one didn’t. Sunderland looked sharp, structured and increasingly ruthless, with key figures already hitting a good level.
Above all, Reinildo’s display sent a clear message. With fresh competition about to walk through the door, he chose to respond not with words, but with tackles, overlaps and shots. If Methalie wants that shirt, he will have to rip it from a defender who looks in no mood to step aside.
