UEFA Europa League hopefuls Stade Rennais FC made an explosive start to the Ligue 1 campaign with a 5-1 victory away against top-flight debutants Dijon FCO.

Rennes, who will face FK Crvena Zvezda in the UEFA Europa League play-offs later this month, missed the chance to go ahead when Julien Feret fired over from the penalty spot just after the half-hour. They did not have to wait long for their breakthrough, though, as Victor Montano (34) promptly turned in from a Abdoulrazak Boukari cross. Two minutes later, Feret made up for his earlier miss thanks to more good work from Boukari, with Brice Jovial heading Dijon back into contention in first-half added time.

Boukari restored Rennes's two-goal advantage five minutes into the second period and, after Gregory Thil had struck a penalty against the post for Dijon, Kader Mangane (75) and substitute Alexander Tettey (85) put the Brittany club further in the clear.

There was an away success for AS Saint-Étienne as well as they kicked off with a 2-1 win at FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Michaël Ciani's 18th-minute own goal began a disappointing evening for the 2008/09 champions and they fell two goals behind when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang registered 13 minutes later, with Jussiê giving Bordeaux brief hope via a second-half penalty.