Rennes wins by KO

It had been eleven years since the Stade Rennais had last won a game in Marseille. Eleven years since Philippe Delaye, the only goals corer in a short victory over Marseille in November 2000 was looking for a successor. At the end of a big battle and thanks to renewed defensive efficiency, Stade Rennes has finally managed to win at the Stade Vélodrome.

Starting the game well, Rennes was keen to amend its recent defensive lacks in order to try and achieve a result on the road. This state of mind didn’t prevent the Rennais to play their game however, and they rushed forward as soon as an opportunity arose.
Fifteen minutes in the game, Marseille had the first big chance. Receiving a ball in the centre, Loïc Rémy managed to turn at the entrance of the penalty area despite the pressing of Kana-Biyik. His shot from the penalty spot was beautifully flicked away by Costil, who leaped perfectly. Rennes played mostly in counters, with Montaño always looking for the deep balls. Two minutes after the Marseille chance, Pitroipa launched Boukari on his way to the goal. The Togolese hit a low-shot, but Mandanda stopped it.

Well installed in the game, the Rennais were doing better than resisting the assaults of Marseille in the first half. However, they lacked the realism in front of the goal needed to beat the opposition’s keeper. Five minutes before the break, Montaño received a deep ball from Pajot and managed to eliminate Diawara, but the Colombian decided to hit from a narrow angle and sent the ball in the outside netting.
The second half started the same way. Despite this, Costil was the first to shine once again. After a good stop on a shot by Remy, he managed a fantastic save on the following corner after a pinpoint header by Alou Diarra.

As both managers renewed their attacking line at the hour, Marseille put more pressure. On another corner-kick, it was M’Vila who hacked the ball off the goal line. Coming off the bench, Gignac also tested the Rennes defence but once again, Costil denied him. In reply, Rennes showed they had not lost all hopes, but Pitroipa’s powerful shot was miraculously pushed away by Mandanda.
Finally, and while the OM was seeming more dominant that ever, Stade Rennes managed to score when least expected. On a long ball by Costil poorly cleared by Marseille’s defence, Kembo recovered the ball and sent a heavy shot from outside the penalty area, which flew by Mandanda’s post and in the goal (76’).

A mighty blow for Marseille, who couldn’t manage to come back in the game during the last fifteen minutes. Braced against their own goal in the mission to keep their advantage, Rennes was even close to doubling their lead at the last second of injury time. At the end of a solitary run towards’ Mandanda’s goal, Féret delivered to Hadji, whose shot was inches wide of the goal.
Nevermind, the Stade Rennais won at the end of a good battle, and can thank Benoît Costil, truly decisive in the goals. A success as a good omen before the trip to Udine in the Europa League next Thursday.

Match Facts

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE 0 - 1 STADE RENNAIS FC (half-time : 0-0)

Ligue 1, Game Week 5
Saturday, September 10th 2011, 21:00

Stade Vélodrome
Attendance : 40 628 spectators

Referee : Ruddy Buquet

Goal : Kembo (76’) for Rennes.

Yellow Card : Azpilicueta (19’) and Diawara (32’) for Marseille ; Mangane (36’), Féret (43’), Pajot (50’) and Théophile-Catherine (73’) for Rennes.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Mangane (cap), Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Pajot, Féret - Pitroipa (Dalmat, 81’), Montaño (Hadji, 64’), Boukari (Kembo, 66’).

Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.

- Olympique de Marseille : Mandanda - Azpilicueta, Fanni, Diawara, Morel - Diarra, Cheyrou, Lucho (Kaboré, 64’) - Valbuena (Amalfitano, 23’), Rémy, J. Ayew (Gignac, 56’).

Manager: Didier Deschamps.