Some good football, but no goals

This game will give more arguments to the pessimistic supporters requesting the arrival of a striker during this early season. This Wednesday, for their third pre-season game, the “Rouge et Noir” showed particularly inefficient.
Two defending errors, at the beginning of the game, sealed the outcome of the match.

Rennes XI in the first half : Costil - Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Théophile-Catherine - Doumbia, Féret, M’Vila - Pitroipa, Boukari, Brahimi.

From a ball lost by Doumbia at the beginning of the match, Roudet sneaked in behind the defence and delivered the ball for Maïga who scored on an easy tap-in (6’). The same Maïga would double his team’s lead in Sochaux’ second opportunity, just fifteen minutes later (20’).

Two chances, two goals. Sochaux had showed cruelly clinical. Indeed, Rennes was showing a good figure and passed the football well, but the opposition showed solid in their area, and the “Rouge et Noir” struggled to deliver the final pass.

The play was clearly leaning towards the right wing in this first half for Rennes, banking on the speed and impact of Pitroipa. On the left flank, Brahimi, still building up his fitness after months of injuries, wasn’t as influent. Boukari had difficulties to shine at centre-forward, well taken by the Sochaux defence. He would create a huge chance after fifteen minutes however. On a corner-kick by Féret (who played as a playmaker for the whole of the first half), he headed the ball against the crossbar (16’).

At the end of the half, a last Rennes acceleration remained ineffective. A shot by Théophile Catherine, following an acceleration on the left flank, bounced off the post after being deflected. A minute later, Kana-Biyik found himself in a centre-forward position after Féret recovered the ball off Sochaux’ midfield. He was denied by Richert.

Rennes XI in the second half: Costil - Danzé, Boye, Mangane, Jebbour - Mandjeck, Pajot, Tettey - Camara, Montaño, Féret.

Rennes played well and created chances. Rather reassuring, but Antonetti’s players truly lacked realism in the finishing, against a Sochaux team grouped by their goal.

The second half was less lively. Pajot took over Féret’s role as a playmaker and had a decent game. Alexander Tettey was also looking particularly in form, shooting on goal three times.

Frédéric Antonetti made a final round of substitutions one hour into the game. But the final thirty minutes proved rather dull.

Rennes XI from the 65th minute : Diallo - Théophile-Catherine, Boye, Kana-Biyik, Jebbour - Mandjeck, Pajot, Tettey - Boukari, Montaño, Camara.

The game and the players

In the goals, Benoît Costil had little to do. He couldn’t do anything on both of Maïga’s goal. With Rennes dominating for most of the game, he managed a good stop on a one-to-one just before being substituted. He was replaced by Diallo at the 65th minute. Focused, the youngster had no occasion to shine in the last half hour.

In central-defence, captain Mangane was partnering with Kana-Biyik in the first half. The same pair as during most of left season. In the second half, Antonetti associated Boye and Mangane in the first place, and then Boye and Kana-Biyik. Nothing to signal except for the two goals of the first half, in which Sochaux showed extremely efficient on their only two chances.

At left-back, Théophile-Catherine managed a sober game in the first half. Jebbour distinguished himself with a few good runs forward in the second half.

At defensive midfield, M’Vila and Doumbia started in the first half. Doumbia lost the ball that brought to the first Sochaux goal. Féret played as precisely as usual in a playmaker position. He had a more difficult second half on the left wing. Pajot replaced him with seriousness as an attacking midfielder in the second half.

Upfront, Pitroipa was Rennes’ main asset in the first half. He drew the play to his side, with Brahimi failing to have a real influence on the game.
In the second half, Camara showed as valuable as over the last game, whether it was on the left or on the right flank. However, the well regrouped Sochaux defence held firm.