Reinildo Shines as Sunderland Defeats Rennes in Pre-Season Clash

Pre-season friendlies are supposed to be gentle tune‑ups. This one had a bit more edge. With competition about to arrive in his position, Reinildo responded the only way defenders truly can – by locking down his flank and charging the other way whenever the chance appeared.

Here’s how Sunderland’s players measured up in a lively run-out against Rennes.

Player Ratings

Robin Roefs – 6/10

Beaten by a superb penalty he had no realistic chance of stopping. Beyond that, his afternoon was relatively calm. Rennes only really tested him with a handful of tame efforts, though there was one glaring early opening where the shot flew wide and should at least have forced him into a save. Showed real composure with the ball at his feet, spinning away from the press in the first half to open up play and set the tone for Sunderland’s build-up.

Trai Hume – 7/10

Back to basics at right-back and it suited him. Hume stayed deeper, defended his channel well and rarely looked flustered. Sunderland did sacrifice a bit of control in that first period with him holding a more traditional line, but he still found a way to leave his mark in the final third. When the set piece broke kindly, he arrived eight yards out and passed the ball coolly into the net. Another goal, another reminder of his knack for timing his runs.

Dan Ballard – 6/10

Ballard lived right on the edge. He threw himself into the contest, attacked set pieces with intent and got shots away when he pushed up. Out of possession, he handled most of what came his way, yet two moments dragged his rating down. First, he surged out of defence, lost the ball and could only watch as a lob drifted just wide with Roefs stranded. Then he conceded a clumsy penalty that Rennes gladly converted. A busy performance, but one that left the door ajar.

Luke O’Nien – 7/10

An afternoon that never truly stretched him defensively, though he still had to stay switched on. One whipped Rennes cross threatened to cause chaos, only for O’Nien to adjust his feet and head it over from close range. With the ball, he was far more expressive. He pinged sharp passes out of defence and delivered one outstanding cross that begged to be finished, only for Reinildo to glance it wide. Calm, inventive, and always looking to break lines.

Reinildo – 8/10 – Man of the Match

If Dayann Methalie is on his way to challenge for that left-back slot, Reinildo’s answer was emphatic. Nothing came down his side with any real conviction. He read danger early, snapped into recovery tackles and repeatedly shut down Rennes breaks before they could develop.

Then he started to drive forward. Overlapping on the left, he linked brilliantly with Chemsdine Talbi, saw one effort deflected wide and then kept arriving in the box. He just failed to convert O’Nien’s teasing cross and later forced an outstanding save from Brice Samba after meeting a delivery from Chris Rigg. Aggressive, sharp, and a genuine two-way force. If this is the level, his shirt won’t be easy to take.

Granit Xhaka (C) – 7/10

The rhythm of the game ran through him. Xhaka kept Sunderland ticking, taking simple options when they were on but always scanning for something more ambitious. Twice he split the Rennes back line with passes that were inches away from putting a forward clean through. He controlled tempo, calmed things when they threatened to get stretched and quietly dictated the midfield.

Noah Sadiki – 7/10

Typical Sadiki. Relentless running, endless covering, and a willingness to do the ugly yards. He filled gaps at the back, dropped in when full-backs pushed on and then powered up the left side when space opened. Not everything he tried came off, but his work-rate underpinned Sunderland’s structure and allowed others to play.

Chemsdine Talbi – 6/10

Lively on the left without quite finding the killer moment. Talbi drove at his full-back, made repeated bursts into space and looked determined to deliver early. His instinct was always to cross rather than cut inside and shoot, which kept Rennes guessing but left you wanting one decisive action. A solid outing, if not yet a statement one.

Enzo Le Fée – 7/10

Constantly on the move, constantly available. Le Fée drifted between the lines, dropped deep to collect and popped up in pockets that Rennes struggled to track. His close control and change of direction sparked several promising attacks and he carried the ball with a calm authority that unsettled the visitors. A clever, roaming display that knitted midfield and attack together.

Nilson Angulo – 6/10

Flashes of real quality down the right. Angulo stretched the pitch, ran at his man and worked hard when Sunderland lost possession. His diagonal runs were a real outlet, yet the timing let him down too often. Caught offside several times when well placed after sharp switches of play, he threatened to break the game open but never quite did. The intent was there; the details need sharpening.

Brian Brobbey – 7/10

Brobbey bullied the Rennes defence at times. He occupied both centre-backs, threw his weight around and refused to give them a moment’s peace. His goal summed him up. He darted in behind, saw his first effort saved, then simply brushed the defender aside and slid the rebound home. A classic striker’s finish built on strength and persistence.

Substitutes

Romaine Mundle – 7/10

Something has shifted with Mundle. Maybe it’s the new contract talks, maybe it’s just confidence, but he looked like a player ready to grab his chance. Direct every time he picked up the ball, he drove at defenders and injected pace into the game. His standout moment came from a dead ball, a thumping free-kick that crashed off the crossbar with Samba beaten.

Chris Rigg – 7/10

Another cameo, another reminder of how fast he’s growing into senior football. Rigg looked stronger, more assured, and wasted no time making an impact. His delivery from the right was superb, especially the cross that found Reinildo and almost produced a goal. Pre-season keeps asking questions of him; he keeps answering.

Habib Diarra – 6/10

Diarra slipped into the structure alongside Xhaka and mirrored much of Sadiki’s work. He covered lanes, shuffled across to protect the full-backs and kept his passing simple. Nothing spectacular, but he maintained the balance in midfield and ensured standards didn’t drop.

Wilson Isidor – 6/10

Isidor lived on the shoulder of the last defender, always hinting at a run in behind. His movement dragged Rennes’ back line around and created lanes for midfield runners. The final touch or chance never quite came his way, yet his selfless running opened space for others.

Jocelin Ta Bi – 6/10

Ta Bi brought a different kind of threat on the right. Close control, tight dribbles, and the ball seemingly glued to his boots at times. He twisted past challenges and carried Sunderland up the pitch, even if the end product remained a work in progress.

Reinildo walked off knowing exactly what he’d done: with a new rival incoming, he turned a routine friendly into a loud reminder that the shirt is his to lose.