Brahimi stole the show

- No « testimonial »

To the contrary of what he had announced after his team was knocked out of the French Cup against Reims, Frédéric Antonetti [1] had recalled most of the time that started the game last Tuesday. One of the main targets of this media outburst, Samuel Souprayen was returning at left back while John Verhoek sat on a Ligue 1 bench for the first time in his career.

The only major changes were the presence of Nicolas Douchez, Jérome Leroy and Yacine Brahimi at midfield to the detriment of Johann Carrasso, Fabien Lemoine and Jirès Kembo.

- Douchez to sign a contract extension ?

Just a few weeks ago, we were in no illusions regarding the future of Nicolas Douchez in Rennes. But is it possible that the deal has changed? Covering the game for Orange Sport yesterday, Denis Balbir hinted that the Stade Rennais FC goalkeeper “was a bit less sure to leave “ the club at the end of the season. With a contract expiring in June, Douchez is free to sign wherever he wished without the bidding team needing to offer a transfer fee. Only media hype, or a real desire of Douchez and Stade Rennes to continue their collaboration?

- Brahimi-Tettey, it goes on and on...

Since the return from the winter break, they are the two men in form in Frédéric Antonetti’s squad. Before that game, both men had scored eight of the fourteen Rennes goals since January, while delivering three assists between them. Against Paris Saint-Germain, it was once again Alexander Tettey delivering the pass and Yacine Brahimi finishing. The magic pair is back, and everyone will be pleased.

- Rennes likes the distance

Struggling in attack since the beginning of the season, with only 24 goals, Stade Rennes has the particularity of having scored ten goals from outside the penalty area. Indeed, Yacine Brahimi (in Nancy, against Paris Saint-Germain), Ismaël Bangoura (in Nancy), Victor-Hugo Montaño (in Arles-Avignon), Romain Danzé (against Toulouse), Jirès Kembo (against Brest), Jérome Leroy (against Brest) and Alexander Tettey (against Arles-Avignon) have all scored from outside the sixteen metres line.

- Brahimi catches up with Montaño

By scoring his fourth goal in Ligue 1 this season, Yacine Brahimi becomes the club’s best goal scorer alongside Victor Hugo Montaño. For his first year in the French top-flight, the French-Algerian is managing a shining debut. He is only halfway through to his tally of last season, when he was loaned to Clermont-Foot (eight goals, three penalties). Including all competitions, Brahimi has scored a total of six with his two goals in the Coupe de France against AS Cannes and Vaux-en-Velin. Same thing for Montaño with his double against AS Cannes. No way to untie the two Rennes strikers here.

- Greedy

Against Paris Saint-Germain, Stade Rennais FC won their tenth victory so far this season. Taking a closer look, one would realise that Frédéric Antonetti’s men are content with bare necessities, since seven of the ten successes were won by a one goal margin.

- Antonetti, eight years after Halilhodžić

Dismissed by Laurent Duhamel, Frédéric Antonetti has been asked to watch the end of the game from the stands at the Route de Lorient. The last Rennes manager to be sent off in that way was Vahid Halilhodžić during the 2002-2003 season. Angered to see his team trailing against Bastien, the Bosnian managed had started having a go at referee Patrick Lhermitte. Neither László Bölöni, nor Guy Lacombe had received a similar sanction while coaching Rennes. And they weren’t the calmer of managers…

- the deaf leading the deaf

During the press conference, Frédéric Antonetti discussed the incident between him and Laurent Duhamel. Rather surprised after a foul by Romain Danzé on Nene was sanctioned, the Rennes coach tried to discuss it with the referee. Antonetti: “If I jump and you duck at the same time, am I the one causing the foul?” Duhamel replied : «You’re not going to teach me how to referee a football game». To which Antonetti replied ironically: “I think I’m right”. The phrase too many…

- Kombouaré offers – unusual – support to Antonetti

To be honnest, they are far from being the best friends in the world. A few years ago, the two managers had created the buzz by closing close to a fight as they were respectively managing Valenciennes FC and OGC Nice during the 2006-2007 season. The two hot-tempered coaches had exchanged a series of insults before the Kanak was dismissed. The exchanges continued all the way to the dressing room. Last night, after Laurent Duhamel’s decision, Kombouaré’s incomprehension at his opponent leaving the bench was visible. Before the game, he had even had praising words towards the Corsican: “Wherever he coached, he is a successful manager and did well in Bastia, in Nice… Now he is in Rennes and he does a great job”.

- The PSG remain sterile

Last week, we were talking about some sort of curse for Stade Rennes at the Stade Bonal, in Sochaux, Paris Saint-Germain is facing really much the same difficulties at the Stade de la Route de Lorient since a few years. Indeed, the players from the capital haven’t scored a goal in Rennes since the 2005-2006 season (1-1). The last Paris goal scorer was Bonaventure Kalou. Worse, Paris hasn’t managed a success in Rennes since 2001-2002. On that day, Rennes was trailing 2-0 at the interval after goals from Ronaldinhio and Alex. In the second half, Rennes’ domination wasn’t enough for Christian Gourcuff to swing the situation, despite the goal by Christophe Le Roux after a free-kick by Laurent Battles.

- When everything goes wrong...

Really much an evening to forget for Paris Saint-Germain. Beaten in Rennes once again, the Parisians have known more trouble on the way home. Indeed, while leaving the Stade de la Route de Lorient, their bus simply broke down. Another bus was quickly provided to the capital’s club however.