Lorient - Stade Rennais : The History

The Opposition

The Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud was officialy founded in 1926 to take over a corporate team. The club went up the levels little by a little to install itself durably in the highest ranks of amateur football, winning a few major regional titles in the process.

In 1967, the FCL was stepping up a gear when being awarded the professional status. The club from Morbihan would then remain in the second division for ten years, without managing the leap to the top flight, before being relegated to Division 3 and go into administration the following year. The downfall would go on all the way down to the regional divisions in 1981-82.

Christian Gourcuff arrived at the head of the club at this time, as a player-manager first. Trained in Rennes where he won the 1973 Gambardella Cup, he came with a solid experience of the high-level, having played in professional teams such as Guingamp or Rouen. Under his direction, the club returned to the second division at the end of the 1985/1986 season. During 13 years, he would see his team going up and down between the Divisions 2 and 3, without ever manage a promotion to the top-flight.

In 1995, the FCL won the National (3rd level) championship and went on to finish the next season with a respectable twelfth position in the Division 2, thanks in particular to Bernard Bouger’s efficiency up front. After finishing the 1996-1997 season in 9th position, Lorient came in the following year with serious arguments. This generation of Lorient players would prove outstanding, as the “Merlus” finished the league in second place (just behind AS Nancy-Lorraine) to earn a historical first promotion to Ligue 1. Pulled by players such as que Robert Malm (16 goals), Ali Bouafia (15 goals), Djima Oyawolé (7 goals) or Stéphane Pédron, the FCL ended the season with the unrivalled best attack in Ligue 2 (68 goals). Lorient topped the performance with a very good run in the Coupe de France, before losing to Paris Saint Germain in the last 16 (1-0 to Paris at Le Moustoir)

Unfortunately, the first season at the highest level would not be of the same quality for the “Tangos”, the Lorient club returning back to the second level immediately. The FCL came very close to remaining in the top division however, to finish the season at the 18th position. The Morbihan’s club would then spend to more years in Ligue 2. The FCL was promoted again in 2001, after a convincing season (The “Merlus” finished second, behind FC Sochaux). During the summer break, Christian Gourcuff decided to leave his favourite club and look for a new challenge in… Rennes. Yvon Pouliquen arrived to replace him and Lorient finished last in the Division 1. For the next three years, the “Tangos” would experience mixed fortunes (4th in 2003 and 2004, 14th in 2005)

During the 2005/2006 season, the FCL managed an outstanding second half of the season and finished the Ligue 2 championship in the third place (equal in points with SM Caen, but with a better goal difference), just behind Valenciennes and Sedan. Christian Gourcuff’s men earned yet another promotion to Ligue 1, and managed to stay up. Finally, the FC Lorient plays its 7th season in the top flight this year, the fifth in succession.

In terms of silverware, the Morbihan club has won the 2002 Coupe de France against the Sporting Club de Bastia (1-0, thanks to a goal by Jean-Claude Darcheville)., and also reached the final of the Coupe de la Ligue the same year, haplessly beaten by the Girondins de Bordeaux (3-0). In Europe, Lorient has recorded a single participation to the Uefa Cup, in 2002/2003, knocked out in the first round of the competition by Turkish team Denizlispor (0-2 & 3-1). Lorient also earned one champion title in the National in 1995

Previous meetings

For years, the teams would only meet rarely, generally in the Coupe de France. In the middle of the 1970’s however, Stade Rennes came across Lorient in Division 2 for the teams’ first League oppositions. The teams would meet again at the level in the late 80’s and early 90’s, before a first derby in Division 1, in March 1999.

Because of Lorient’s recent history in Ligue 1 (7th season in the top flight), Stafe Rennes only played 6 games on the pitch of his Morbihan neighbour. The balance is slightly in favour of the Breton capital, as Rennes won twice at Le Moustoir, for three draws and only one success for Lorient during the season 2001/2002.

During the 2007/2008 season, the « Rouge et Noir » went to win at the Stade du Moustoir for the first time in Ligue 1, 1-0, thanks to a goal by Etienne Didot.

Finally, Rennes came close to disaster last season, conceding a goal to Diarra at the very beginning of the game, but Danzé managed to equalise just before the break, despite the fact that the SRFC had seemed the weaker side for most of the first half. The score would not change during the second half, with the game ending on a draw (1-1).

-  2009/2010 Season (Ligue 1) : Douchez - Fanni, Mangane, Hansson, Danzé - Lemoine (Leroy, 46’), Tettey, M’Vila - Briand (Kembo Ekoko, 77’), Gyan (Bangoura, 37’), Marveaux.

Summary of Lorient - Stade Rennais in L1 : 6 games played, 1 Lorient victory, 3 draws and 2 Rennes victories. 5 goals to Lorient, 5 to Rennes.
Last Rennes goalscorer : Romain Danzé (April 10, 2010)

Last ten Lorient - Stade Rennais

- 2009/10 (L1) : Draw 1-1 (Diarra / Danzé)
- 2008/09 (L1) : Rennes wins 2-1 (Morel / Gyan & Sow)
- 2007/08 (Coupe de France) : Draw 0-0 a.e.t (pen. 3-1 to Lorient)
- 2007/08 (L1) : Rennes wins 1-0 (Didot)
- 2006/07 (L1) : Draw 0-0
- 2001/02 (Coupe de la Ligue) : Lorient wins 1-0 (Darcheville)
- 2001/02 (L1) : Lorient wins 2-0 (Feindouno & Martini)
- 1998/99 (L1) : Draw 1-1 (Sommeil o.g. / Nonda)
- 1992/93 (D2) : Rennes wins 4-1 (Touré / Musisi, Gourvennec (2) & Farh)
- 1989/90 (D2) : Rennes wins 2-0 (Denis & Cano)