A draw of the highest quality

You don’t change a winning team. Against Paris, Antonetti had therefore decided to field nearly the same team that started in Dijon, with only one change: Mandjeck started instead of Doumbia, doubtful during the week. Although the team remained mostly unchanged, the opposition was of a clearly different calibre. From the beginning of the match, Paris imposed their rhythm on the game. Kombouaré’s men showed available and took control of the game, while Rennes struggled to keep the ball. The figures are clear: after fifteen minutes, Paris had two thirds of the ball possession.

The first big chance would be for Rennes however. Danzé, well inspired, found a pass forward to Féret, left free in the penalty area. From ten meters right of the goal, the former Nancy player crossed his shot too much (14’). Although Rennes had had the best chance to score, Paris had most of the possession. The Bretons were limited to exploiting the Parisian mistakes and counter-attack to bring danger into the Paris area, as in the 26th minute, when a rapid counter by Pitroipa allowed Kana-Biyik to face Sirigu. His shot was pushed away by the Italian keeper, who was put to work again by a Boukari shot (27’).

This double chance waked Rennes up, as Paris was confronted to the injury of their captain, Mamadou Sakho (33’). PSG was now on the back foot, but remained dangerous in several occasions through Gameiro. First at the 33rd minute, when his shot was pushed away by Costil, then a few minutes later when the former Lorientais was a bit too short to connect with Menez’ cross at the second post (40’). Costil seemed powerless that time.

Rennes was on the attack again at the beginning of the second half, and profited of another blow for their opponent, when Jallet had to leave the field injured (50’). Sirigu was put to contribution several times in quick succession: he first stopped a Kana-Biyik header on his goal-line, following a free-kick taken by Féret (54’), before parrying a shot by Pitroipa (56’). The Burkinabé had eliminated two Paris player managed to keep the ball before shooting. The game was increasingly lively, and this time it was Costil who came in the way of Gameiro’s shot (58’). Solid in his interventions, the Rennes goalkeeper had no chance, five minutes later, when the same Gameiro opened the score for Paris. The striker, well served by Menez’ back pass, beat Costil with an inside-foot shot skimming the post (0-1, 73e).

The sky seemed to be falling over the heads of the Breton players who, in the minutes following the goal, would show a cruel lack of imagination. Not disorganised by the unfortunate change made to their defence, PSG had scored as they were under pressure, and now they only had to control the last minutes of the game. However Stade Rennes managed to find the resources to equalise. The inspiration came from Stéphane Dalmat who, minutes after coming off the bench, launched Pitroipa behind Paris’ defence. The twirling Rennes striker ran free to face Sirigu, and pushed the ball past the Paris goalkeeper (1-1, 88’).
The equaliser was deserved, and the draw was logical. The Stade de la Route de Lorient, at full capacity tonight, witnessed a good football game, but still no Rennes victory in the league. The fans are now waiting for it since February 26th.

Match Facts

STADE RENNAIS FC 1 - 1 PARIS SG (Half-time: 0-0)

Ligue 1, Game Week 2
Saturday, August 13th 2011, 19:00

Stade de la Route de Lorient
Attendance : 27 927 spectators

Referee : Pascal Vileo

Goals : Pitroipa (88’) for Rennes ; Gameiro (73’) for Paris.

Yellow Cards: Féret (40’), Mandjeck (57’) for Rennes ; Matuidi (41’), Menez (83’) for Paris.

- Stade rennais FC : Costil - Danzé, Mangane, Kana-Biyik, Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila (Dalmat, 87’), Mandjeck (Tettey, 87’), Féret - Pitroipa, Montaño, Boukari (Camara, 77’).

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- Paris SG : Sirigu - Ceara, Sakho (Camara, 33’), Bisevac, Tiéné - Chantôme, Matuidi - Jallet (Hoarau, 50’), Bodmer, Menez (Bahebeck, 84’) - Gameiro.

Manager : Antoine Kombouaré.