Two derbies to get back on track

Stade Rennes are losing steam since a few weeks. To a run of five consecutive wins succeeded another one, not so brilliant, of three games without a victory against Marseille (0-2), Lyon (1-1) and Auxerre (0-0)… The top 3 – in the same order- at the end of last season.

After their last victory in date, in Montpellier, Stade Rennes was still a contender for the title. After the game, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik had even dared mentioning the « champions’ luck » in regards to Souleymane Camara’s shot on the crossbar in the game’s injury time. While the young centre back then admitted that the eventuality of a first champion title was “in a little corner in the heads” of the squad members, it now seems quite a distance away, only three games later.

Relaunch the dynamic as soon as possible

With three wins in as many games, Lille seems to be flying away, and a collapse from their part seems to be the only way they would lose the title. As for Marseille, they try to hang on as well as they can, relying on their defensive strength and optimal fortunes upfront.
Stopped by their average results, Stade Rennes also profit of those as mediocre of Lyon and Paris however, two teams certainly not helped by apparent dressing-room tensions. Profiting of the unity between their players, Rennes must however deal with the multiple injuries which regularly handicap the team. An issue Lyon and Paris aren’t suffering with. When these two teams will be returning in the right frame of mind to try and reach the third qualifying spot for the Champions League, Stade Rennes won’t be able to count on their failing much longer to try and protect their position on the podium.
_ In other words, it is necessary for Rennes to launch a new dynamic quickly in order to remain in control of their fate, keep this precious third place, and – maybe even – close the gap with Marseille.

First steps of this awaited return to business, the two derbies to come against Brest and Lorient. During the season’s first half, Stade Rennes had approached them in a very similar situation. They were in a run of four games without a win (two draws, two defeats) following one of the high points of the season and the first place in the league, gained against Toulouse at the beginning of October. Today, the two games in front of Rennes are each carrying a special flavour.

Brest et Lorient looking for recovery

Conquering and surprising in autumn, the Stade Brestois is in free fall since a few weeks. Alex Dupont’s team has now lost its last four games in the league, and the summary since January 1st, 2011 is rather bleak (two victories, one draw, seven defeats). Seventh at the half-season, the Finistere team is now in thirteenth position, only three points clear from the relegation zone.
Always a special occasion, the derby is an ideal chance for them to save their season, especially since Brest has just recorded the return of their most important player, Nolan Roux, out with an injury… since the end of the season’s first half. Beaten at the Route de Lorient (1-2) without any discussion, Brest had then missed their game, smothered by a Rennes team dominating the ball possession (65% at half-time), then showing efficient in the counters. In a Stade Francis-Le Blé that should be whipped into frenzy for the occasion, Brest will certainly be eager to take their revenge after that first confrontation.

As for FC Lorient, they continue their quiet season in the league, comfortably installed in the mid-table, certainly clear from the relegation zone, but without real hope to clinch a European spot at the term of the season. Over the last weeks, the team from Morbihan has been taking their time with five draws in succession, and they will try – before the derby – to return to winning ways against Sochaux at the Moustoir. Always performing well on their Astroturf, the FCL remains one of the worst teams on the road (two victories, five draws, eight goals, and the seventeenth summary in Ligue 1).
In comparison to the first leg, this time, it’s Rennes who have a revenge to take. At the end of November, the “Rouge et Noir” had been solidly beaten by Lorient. At the time Frédéric Antonetti had largely criticised the lacklustre performance of his team, guilty of having gone« completely disorganised”, and leaving a “deserved victory” to FC Lorient.
On that day, Christian Gourcuff brought an eighteen years old complex to an end, winning his first game against Stade Rennes on the twentieth try (before this game, he had managed six draws and lost thirteen times). The former Rennes manager would probably like to confirm this at the Route de Lorient, where he sits on five consecutive defeats since Lorient was last promoted to Ligue 1.

Against Rennes, these are therefore two particular games, tasting of revenge, which are now preparing. Each time, the obvious motivation of challengers trying to show the “big” team they can rival on the pitch, and that they won’t make any complex. Each time, the atmosphere around those matches is very particular, whether it is from the rivalry on the stands or on the pitch.
In terms of sports, two games, two derbies, two special occasions for Rennes to launch a new dynamic after the latest results against the « Europeans ». With only a few game weeks left before the end of the Championnat, in the fight for the Champions League, to win again sounds like an obligation. If they don’t manage it, Stade Rennes will certainly have made the task much more difficult for themselves.

- Photo : srfc.frenchwill.fr