Wolves 3 (Ait-Nouri 11, Gomes 49, Hwang 67) Stade Rennais 1 (Bourigeaud 14)
Wolves rounded off pre-season with an impressive showing and victory over Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais at Molineux. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Joao Gomes and Hee Chan Hwang were all on target for the Old Gold, who will be happy with their preparations ahead of the new Premier League season kicking off next week.
Ait-Nouri’s angled volley had Wolves in front early on at Molineux and, although their French opposition levelled from the spot, Julen Lopetegui’s side upped the intensity after the break and regained the lead when Gomes rolled home, before Hwang added a third, both after impressive team moves.
For the final dress rehearsal, Wolves started promisingly, with Pablo Sarabia and Maximilian Kilman both registering attempts in the first five – the Spaniard’s a simple catch, the defender’s sailing over. The best chance of the opening stages fell to Matheus Nunes however, as he was gifted possession by a poor pass and charged down on goal, only to take a touch inside, which made life difficult, meaning his eventual shot lacked power and precision.
In fact, the opportunity which Wolves took the lead from was infinitely tougher. Sarabia’s corner was floated and beat everyone in the middle, but Ait-Nouri was lurking at the back post and he hooked a brilliant volley back where it came from and into the far corner.
Jose Sa was back between the sticks for the Old Gold and he had to be at his best to get down low and keep out Desire Doue’s low, deflected drive. Then he was left thanking his crossbar, as Benjamin Bourigeaud’s cross was flicked on to the woodwork by Arnaud Kalimuendo – a warning sign Wolves didn’t read.
Soon after, as Joe Hodge lost the battle in the midfield, Wolves’ central defenders were exposed and as Kalimuendo turned, Craig Dawson stuck out a leg and tripped in the forward. Captain Bourigeaud stepped up and, although Sa guessed the right way, the strike was too powerful and drew Rennes level.
Both sides then had chances to take a lead into the break. Bourigeaud found himself at the back post with acres of space, before blasting over with the outside of his foot, while at the other end, Sarabia’s corner fell perfectly on to the head of Mario Lemina, who headed over from close range.
Half-time | Wolves 1-1 Stade Rennais
Lopetegui made four changes at the break and the arrival of Gomes had an instantly positive effect. The midfielder picked up the ball from Matheus Cunha, drove forward and threaded in Nunes down the right, and his cut back was left by another new introduction Fabio Silva for Gomes to finish the move, calmly rolling into the bottom corner.
Wolves’ tails were up and when Hwang fired across goal for Cunha, his effort needed clearing off the line, while soon after Nunes powered through, beating the defenders in his wake, before having a firm effort turned behind.
Nunes was having a growing influence on proceedings and when he picked up Sasa Kalajdzic’s lay off, he carried it forward, but instead of playing the simple pass to Matt Doherty, found a brilliant reverse ball to Hwang, who was composed to drill into the bottom corner for 3-1.
Wolves were enjoying themselves and Gomes crashed an effort off the top of Steve Mandanda’s crossbar, before substitute Tom King, getting his Molineux box, turned a low shot around his post. Silva has a chance of his own late on, drilling wide of the mark, as Wolves finished with a victory.
Full-time | Wolves 3-1 Stade Rennais
Wolves | Sa (King 78), Semedo (Doherty 60), Dawson, Kilman (Toti 61), Ait-Nouri (Bueno 46), Lemina (Traore 73), Hodge (Gomes 45), Sarabia (Silva 45), Nunes (Jonny 73), Neto (Hwang 45), Cunha (Kalajdzic 61).
Unused subs | Bentley, Podence, Pond.
Stade Rennais | Mandanda, Truffert (Belocian 60), Theate (Wooh 75), Santamaria, Kalimuendo (Majer 60), Bourigeaud (Meling 84), Gouiri (Abline 60), Assignon (Doue 76), Omari (Tait 84), Le Fee (Doku 60), Doue (Salah 64).
Unused subs | Gallon, Blas, Jaouab, Lembet.
