Rennes delight, reassure and qualify

Stade Rennes didn’t take long to reassure their fans after the collapse suffered in Montpellier las Sunday (defeat 4-0). Led by an hyper-active Boukari in attack, the “Rouge et Noir” have started their game against Red Star Belgrade in spectacular manner. On an individual exploit, Montaño scored the first goal after 10 minutes with a beautiful shot from eighteen metres (1-0).

A superb beginning of the match

Rennes started in storm, and the attacking trio of Pitroipa, Montaño & Boukari gave the runaround to a Serbian defence also guilty of some individual errors. At the 17th minute, it was Kana-Biyik however, who earned a penalty for Stade Rennais, which was converted by M’Vila (2-0, 19’). Boukari was then close to make the score line heavier, but the former Lensois saw the right foot of Bajkovic deny his effort after eliminating two defenders (21’).

Antonetti’s men had managed a superb start of the game, controlling the ball perfectly. In contrary of his Serbian counterpart, heavily solicited, Costil spent a quiet first half. The Rennes keeper would wait until the 41st minute before being truly threatened by Borja, who couldn’t connect to Lazovic’s cross.

Stade Rennes would show a bit less determination at the start of the second half though. Less dangerous in attack, the Bretons were even slightly threatened by Red Star Belgrade, and Costil intervened to tip a header by Kaludjerovic out for a corner (49’). The Serbs would go on to earn another corner-kick immediately, just in front of the 550 supporters who travelled to support them.

Kembo, unstoppable on the left wing

Leading 2-0, Rennes managed their advantage and Frédéric Antonetti could rotate his squad. The Corsican manager therefore decided to rest Pitroipa and replace him by Kembo, who shone as soon as he came on the pitch by eliminating a defender at the entrance of the Red Star’s area before giving too much effect to his shot (63’). The Rennes forward was only on his first try: three minutes later, he escaped on the left wing to serve Tettey, who stumbled against Bajkovic twice.

While Tettey had failed to push the ball in the nets of the Serbian keeper, Pajot – just entered – didn’t miss the opportunity to score his first competitive goal with the Stade Rennais. In a nearly identical phase of play, the U21 international was at the receiving end of a cross by Kembo, definitely unstoppable on his left wing (3-0, 85’). From passing to scoring, Kembo gave the final touch by scoring the fourth goal, launched by Dalmat from the central circle (4-0, 90’).

Superiors in every aspect, Rennes qualified easily for the group phase of the Europa League. The Rennais will now their future opponents after a draw which will start this Friday, 13:00 CET in Monaco.

Match Facts

STADE RENNAIS FC 4 - 0 FK RED STAR BELGRADE (Half Time : 2-0)

Europa League, play-offs return leg
Thursday, August 25th 2011, 18:30

Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 19 364 spectators

Referee : Deniz Aytekin (Germany)

Goals : Montaño (10’), M’Vila (19’, pen.), Pajot (85’), Kembo (90’) for Rennes.

Yellow Cards : Montaño (61’), M’Vila (87’) for Rennes ; Addy (29’), Kadu (81’) for Belgrade.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Danzé (cap), Kana-Biyik, Boye, Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Tettey, Féret (Pajot, 83’) - Pitroipa (Kembo, 62’), Montaño (Dalmat, 72’), Boukari.

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- Etoile rouge Belgrade : Bajkovic - Mikic, Addy, Vilotic, Tosic - Lazovic, Kovacevic (cap), Mijailovic (Kaludjerovic, 46’), Dimitrijevic - Kadu, Borja (Mezenga, 75’).

Manager : Robert Prosinečki.