Rennes misses the opportunity

Seeking a second home victory this season in Ligue 1, the Rennais had the opportunity, in case of a win, to set themselves on top of the league standings. A chance to seize in front of the cameras of Canal+, which possibly inhibited Frédéric Antonetti’s players.

Immediately, it was Saint-Etienne who applied the biggest pressure and « Les Verts » installed themselves in the Rennes half. After three minutes, following a bad clearance by Rennes’ defence, Lemoine received the ball on the left flank. His cross was received by Mignot, ideally positioned in the area, but his shot was countered and flew out for a corner. On the set-piece, the Breton defence missed the ball, but Kitambala shot wide.
With difficulty, Stade Rennes was entering the game. Tactically well positioned, Saint-Étienne disturbed Rennes’ organisation considerably, notably Lemoine who marked M’Vila individually. The early minutes of the game were also marked with the injury of John Boye, who was replaced by Danzé while Théophile-Catherine slid in at centre-back.

«Dozing», according to Victor Hugo Montaño, Rennes could only count on Féret’s inspirations to create chances. At the twelfth minute, following confusion in the penalty area, the man from Saint-Brieuc hit the ball over the goal. Later, on a corner-kick, it was Pajot who headed the ball just wide. At the thirty-fourth minute, Féret was again close, but his curled shot only skimmed the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper’s crossbar.
As often, the difference was finally made on the wings. Following a scuffed shot by Pitroipa, Rennes managed to open the score on a placed attack. After a good sequence of passing, Danzé launched Pitroipa on the right. The Burkinabe cut across to the centre, managed a good one-two with Féret and faced Ruffier. Pitroipa shot on the former Monaco player, but the keeper couldn’t hold to the ball and Hadji pounced on the rebound to blast the ball in the back of the net (1-0, 41’).
Well paid for their late first-half wake-up, Stade Rennais came to the break with a flattering advantage, even though Saint-Étienne did little to worry Costil.

In the second half, Rennes came back with better intention and a clear hope to extend their lead. Six minutes after returning on the pitch, counter-attacking at the centre of the field, Féret delivered to Hadji on his right, but the Morrocan’s powerful shot was deflected for a corner by Ruffier. Two minutes later, Kembo’s pass tore through the defence to Pitroipa who lobbed Ruffier, but his effort was way over the bar.
As often since the beginning of the season, the Rennais were soon punished for their inability to kill the game. Three minutes after the Pitroipa chance Lemoine received a deep ball on the left flank. His perfect cross was well exploited by Aubameyang, who towered over Kana-Biyik to blast an unstoppable header past Costil. Saint-Étienne equalised on its first real chance of the game (1-1, 56’).

Visibly stunned by this equaliser, the Rennais then seemed to lack any ability to react and try to win the game. The last thirty minutes were poor between a powerless Breton team and a clumsy Saint-Etienne. It seemed that the game could be decided on the roll of the dice, but few chances were created.
Saint-Étienne tried to exploit Rennes’ shaky defending, but without any success, as in that shot by Gradel, who had outpaced Mavinga. Rennes was only relying on set-pieces to try and force the deadlock, but Féret missed a well-positioned free-kick while M’Vila hit the wall on his effort.

All in all, a rather lacklustre game between two teams that seemed to lack enthusiasm and energy. While the Stéphanois will be happy to bring a point back from their trip to Brittany, the Rennais will regret to have thrown away, once again, a victory that could very well have been theirs.

Match Facts

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

Ligue 1, Game Week 8
Sunday, September 25th 2011, 21 h 00

Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : about 19 000 spectators

Referee : Sébastien Moreira

Goals : Hadji (41’) for Rennes ; Aubameyang (56’) for Saint-Étienne.

Yellow Cards : Féret (23’) and Mavinga (48’) for Rennes ; Néry (17’) and Paulão (84’) for Saint-Étienne.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Théophile-Catherine, Kana-Biyik, Boye (Danzé, 20’), Mavinga - M’Vila (cap), Pajot, Féret - Kembo (Montaño, 63’), Hadji (Dalmat 80’), Pitroipa .

Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.

- AS Saint-Étienne : Ruffier - Néry, Paulão, Mignot (cap), Ghoulam - Guilavogui, Clément, Lemoine (Batlles, 74’) - Kitambala (Gradel, 55’), Aubameyang, Sako.

Manager : Christophe Galtier.