Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia converted a penalty against Juventus before opening the scoring against Strasbourg: three goals in four matches for Stade Rennais, provisional leaders of Ligue 1.
Boulaye Dia is in fine form. On Thursday 22 October, the Senegalese striker converted a penalty in the 43rd minute during Rennes’ 2-2 draw at Juventus, on matchday 3 of the Europa League. Three days later, on Sunday 25 October at Roazhon Park, he opened the scoring in the 34th minute against Strasbourg, which according to Bénin Web TV is his third goal of the season in Ligue 1.
Those goals are part of a run of three in the Senegal international’s last four matches in all competitions, according to Foot Africa. It is a run that is carrying the Breton club along too: a fifth league win of the season, and provisional top spot in Ligue 1.
The penalty that swung Turin
In Turin, it was Dia who put Rennes back in front just before the break. The striker converted a penalty in the 43rd minute to give his side the lead going into the dressing room. Juventus scorer Nick Woltemade then equalised from the penalty spot in the 67th minute, according to Foot Africa.
The match had started badly for the Bretons: Zeki Çelik had opened the scoring for Juventus as early as the 5th minute, before Mousa Al-Tamari equalised on 15 minutes. According to Foot Africa, Dia was also involved in a Woltemade goal on that European night, a match that ultimately finished 2-2.
Three goals in four matches
The 29-year-old striker’s run, according to Seneweb, is not confined to Europe. On 11 October, at Auxerre, he scored a brace in the 90th+2 and 90th+4 minutes in a 4-1 Rennes win. That brace took him to two goals in four Ligue 1 appearances this season, Foot Africa notes.
His goal against Strasbourg, his third of the season in the league according to Bénin Web TV, extends that run. Against the Alsatians, Rennes midfielder Sebastian Szymański scored a brace in the 41st and 61st minutes, but it was Dia who had set things going on 34 minutes.
Rennes keep rolling
The 3-0 win comes after a stumble: Stade Rennais had lost to Paris FC on the previous matchday, Wiwsport recalls. The fifth Ligue 1 win of the season, according to the same outlet, allows Rennes to go provisionally top of the league, before the PSG-Lyon match.
In the Strasbourg ranks, two Senegalese players featured at Roazhon Park: Pape Demba Diop and Yaya Diémé, according to Bénin Web TV. The sources consulted do not give the date of Rennes’ next Ligue 1 match, nor that of their next Europa League fixture, nor that of the Senegal national team gathering.