Only victory matters...
Ligue 1, Arles-Avignon 0-1 Stade Rennais. The southern winds were smiling to Antonetti’s men. Dominated all through the game, they managed to snatch their second away win with their only shot of the game – by Montaño in the first half – and a solid defensive line.
The eleven players who had started against Saint Etienne last week were back against Avignon tonight. Rennes started the game on a defensive spirit. Until the final whistle, the Provence team was largely in control of the match. The first alert for Rennes came after seven minutes. Dja Djedje, launched in the penalty area, could only find Douchez’s side netting.
On the other side, the Stade Rennais did not seem dangerous, giving the ball away too quickly to build any attack. The first half was worrying, but a screamer by Victor Hugo Montaño came to change the course of the game. With the ball, thirty meters from the goal, the Colombian striker placed a sudden shot as he could have passed to the right. The powerful shot left Vincent Planté motionless. One shot, one goal for Rennes. The equation was simple and depressing for Arles, trying in vain since thirty minutes. But no change would come over 90 minutes.
An experimental defence
Two minutes after the opener, Gyan was agonisingly close to scoring a second. But he failed to beat the local goalkeeper. One could then believe that Rennes had finally entered the game after Montaño’s goal. Certainly not! Rennes defended, rather well though. When the defence failed, Douchez was ready in cover, as Kermorgant could realise at the 36th minute, when his wonderful half-volley was stopped by the Rennes goalkeeper.
A minute later, Fanni was subbed, with an adductors injury. The new Rennes defender, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, came in to complete an experimental defence, along an excellent Mangane. For more than a half, they held firm, while Rennes played low and left the danger come to them. Ten minute in the second half, the “Rouge et Noir” were lucky after some confusion in the area and a shot by Ayasse, on the post. Four minutes later, the crossbar was replacing Douchez to stop a wonderful 30 meters free-kick by Kermorgant, with the help of the wind. The Stade Rennais would suffer until the end, but did not concede a goal.
Antonetti’s men come back to Brittany with 3 more points to their name, and some satisfaction for winning a game after a very defensive game. A necessary victory for an ambitious team. This is certainly the only thing to remember from this game.
Game Sheet
AC ARLES AVIGNON 0 - 1 STADE RENNAIS FC (half-time : 0-1)
Ligue 1, Game Week 4
Saturday, August 28th 201, 19:00
Parc des Sports d’Avignon
Attendance : 9 364 spectators
Referee : Philippe Kalt
Goal : Montaño (28’) for Rennes.
Yellow Cards : Psaume (81’) for Arles-Avignon.
Mandjeck (66’) pour Rennes.
- AC Arles Avignon : Plante - Mejia, Abenzoar, Laurenti, Fanchone, Piocelle (Psaume, 62’), Ayasse, N’Diaye, Meriem, Kermorgant, Dja Djedje (Charisteas, 49’).
Manager: Michel Estevan.
- Stade Rennais FC : Douchez - Danzé, Fanni (Kana-Biyik, 37’), Mangane, Théophile-Catherine - Leroy (Mandjeck, 64’), M’Vila, Dalmat - Montaño, Gyan (Bangoura, 73’), Brahimi.
Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.
Reactions
Frédéric Antonetti : « In the second half, we were very good defensively but we did not manage to keep the ball. We could not take profit of our first half and exploit the spaces. There was much contact. We were strong, as were Mangane and our keeper. It was a bit like a Cup tie, a difficult match. We managed it though, we took three points and we can forget our bad game”.
Michel Estevan : « We played a good game, and despite the winning goal, Rennes did not show much. We played well but we could not convert it. We’ve hit the posts. I’m especially disappointed for the players. We can’t start thinking negatively. A point would have been good for us psychologically, but a defeat isn’t that bad in a preparation time. This one is certainly the hardest to take».