Rennes react well
Ligue 1, Stade rennais 1 - 0 Paris Saint-Germain. Inconsistent at Sochaux and against Reims, Stade Rennes has returned to winning ways against Paris Saint-Germain, a direct competitor in the league. A goal by Brahimi in the first half was enough to crown a good reaction by the Rennes players.
For those who would have doubted after the two routs conceded in the last two games, Stade Rennes is not dead! Logical winners of a PSG cherished by the media since the beginning of the season, the “Rouge et Noir” have returned in the right track this Saturday.
More aggressive, applying a massive pressure, Rennes was able to thwart the tactics of Parisians suddenly struggling to show their qualities. In fact, Rennes was creating all the best chances in the first half, with Paris Saint-Germain stumbling continuously on the Rennes defensive block.
In a very lively beginning of the game, Yacine Brahimi was the one to shine. Receiving the ball at the centre of the field, he beat his defender on his control, opened the way towards goal, and fired a right-foot shot that left Edel powerless (19’).
Trying to react, Paris wasn’t able to really bring the danger in front of Douchez’ goals, except for a few runs by Jallet on the right wing. Rennes was weathering the storm and played mostly counter-attacks, visibly making Frédéric Antonetti’s angry. Too much according to Mr. Duhamel, the game’s goalkeeper, who sent the Rennes manager off just before half-time, condemning him to watch the rest of the game from the stands.
In the second half, Stade Rennes kept on pushing and created more good chances to extend their lead. But neither Leroy (46’), nor Brahimi (50’) managed to convert them. Little by a little, PSG was returning to life, and started really threatening Douchez’ goal. But Chantôme (57’), Giuly (59’) and Hoarau (74’) were all denied by the Rennes keeper.
Despite a few good possession sequences at midfield, the main opportunities were now only coming through counter-attack for Rennes. Amongst the best chances, Lemoine managed a superb curled shot that flew only centimetres wide of the Paris goal (76’), while Camara found the base of the post with an outside-footed shot (78’).
Looking for an equaliser, PSG came also very close to beat Douchez. But the latter showed all his class on a shot by Nenê (88’), managing what would remain as the save of the game.
Stade Rennes, solid in the closing stage as they were during the whole game, eventually snatched a deserved win over Paris Saint-Germain. A success, which allows the “Rouge et Noir” to catch up with their opponents of the night in the league rankings.
Match facts
STADE RENNAIS FC 1 - 0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (half-time : 1-0)
Ligue 1, Game Week 22
Saturday, February 5th 2011, 21:00 CET
Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 26 001 spectators
Referee : Laurent Duhamel
Goal: Brahimi (19’) for Rennes.
Yellow Cards : Tiéné (44’) and Sakho (68’) for Paris.
- Stade rennais FC : Douchez - Danzé (cap), Kana-Biyik, Théophile-Catherine, Souprayen - M’Vila, Tettey, Leroy (Lemoine, 63’) - Boukari, Montaño (Verhoek, 87’), Brahimi (Camara, 72’).
Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.
- Paris Saint-Germain : Edel - Jallet (Cearà, 85’), Armand, Sakho, Tiéné - Makelele (cap) (Erding, 67’), Bodmer, Chantôme - Giuly (Maurice, 78’), Hoarau, Nenê.
Manager : Antoine Kombouaré.