A Stade Rennais in perdition

A passive Mangane, a late Costil

An opposition between two teams from the top of the table, beautiful visuals displayed in the stands by the Green Angels (Saint-Etienne’s main supporters clubs) to celebrate their 20 years of existence: The flavour of great footballing nights was in the air this Sunday at Geoffroy-Guichard. Only the pitch – In a pretty poor state – wasn’t pretty much to the expected standard, disturbing the passing slightly. Both teams struggled to create clear chances at the beginning of the game. Neither Aubameyang, with a curled shot, nor Sako, with a volley over the bar, managed to worry Costil, but the Greens were slightly superiors in the first minutes.

Stade Rennais then started to take the upper hand. First delivering a cross for Kembo, who was preceded in the air by a Saint-Etienne defender (10’), Théophile-Catherine was then at the conclusion on a header (19’), but he didn’t threaten Ruffier. The ASSE goalkeeper was slightly less serene when Doumbia was left alone on a free-kick, but the midfielder’s header flew over the bar (15’). Rennes would then concede the opener as they seemed to really take control of the game. On a poorly cleared corner-kick, Mignot beat Mangane and Costil in the air to score a header (1-0, 24’), profiting of the passivity of the first and of the late rush of the second.

Chances for Saint-Etienne, possession for Rennes

Rennes, although lacking address in the finishing, would not give up after the Greens opened the score. After a good movement on the right wing, Kembo managed to cross for Féret who, alone at the far post, missed the target (28’). Although ASSE was close to score the second goal, on a header by Sako (38’), the teams were even in terms of play at half time. The best chances were for Saint Etienne, but the ball possession was more for Rennes.

The second half started at full speed, with Rennes showing better intent. From kick-off, Kembo saw his shot floppily parried by Ruffier, but Erding had followed and forced the ASSE goalkeeper to a fine save (45’). A turning point in the game, possibly, for the “Rouge et Noir” who would then concede an absolute avalanche of goals. On an ultra-quick counter-attack by Saint- Étienne, Sako crossed for Battles who opened his right foot to beat Costil (2-0, 53’).

Rennes collapses in the second half

Rennes showed signs of weakness in defence. Served in the penalty area after a flick by Nicolita, Aubameyang shot instantly but wide (64’). Sako would have more luck a few minutes later. After a good pass from Battles across the pitch, he eliminated Foulquier and hit a crossed-shot that landed in the inside netting (3-0, 67’). In perdition, Stade Rennais was being given a true lesson of finishing an extremely clinical Saint-Etienne team.

And this wasn’t the end of Rennes’s sufferings: Costil could only parry the ball in the feet of Gradel following a shot by Lemoine. The Ivorian striker only needed to push the ball at the back of the net to score the fourth for Saint-Etienne (4-0, 78’). An absolute nightmare for Rennes, who completed a strange “sequel” to the game they lost on the very same score in Montpellier at the beginning of the season. Completely overpowered on the pitch by the ASSE, the Bretons – who have completely collapsed in the second half – also see their opponents of the night overtake them in the league table. The game against Lille, next week-end, is already looking like double or quits.

Match Sheet

AS SAINT-ÉTIENNE 4 - 0 STADE RENNAIS FC (half-time : 1-0)

Ligue 1, Game Week 24
Sunday, February 19th 2012, 17:00

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Attendance : 21 432 spectators

Referee : Philippe Malige

Goals : Mignot (24’), Batlles (53’), Sako (67’), Gradel (78’) for Saint-Étienne.

Yellow Cards : Kembo (60’) for Rennes. Zouma (88’) forSaint-Étienne.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Foulquier, Kana-Biyik (Boye, 30’), Mangane, Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Doumbia, Féret (Brahimi, 65’) - Kembo (Boukari, 75’), Erding, Pitroipa.

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- AS Saint-Étienne : Ruffier - Ebondo, Mignot, Marchal (Zouma, 77’), Ghoulam - Nicolita, Lemoine, Batlles (Gradel, 70’), Clément, Sako - Aubameyang (Guilavogui, 75’).

Manager : Christophe Galtier.