Ligue 1, Toulouse 1 - 2 Stade Rennes. A first success on the road since September 25th for a good operation in the league standing, Théophile-Catherine succeeding to Briand, Montaño doubles, a game unfolding nearly in the same way than its first leg… All echoes after Rennes’ victory in Toulouse.
- A good operation in the league :
By winnig in Toulouse, Stade Rennes have shown they were able to keep the pace of the leaders. With Marseille, Lyon and Paris having won their games, a defeat in the “Pink City” would have meant the fifth position in the league, with Montpellier closing down. Thanks to this victory, Rennes clung on the 2nd position and reduced the gap with Lille, defeated in Montpellier (0-1) a few hours earlier, to two points. Therefore, an excellent operation for Rennes at the Stadium.
Next Saturday against Lens at the Route de Lorient, Frédéric Antonetti will provisionally take the lead in the league if they manage another win. Stade Rennes will indeed be the only team in the leading pack to play on Saturday. Meanwhile, Marseille will travel to Nancy, Paris will play against Toulouse and Lille will host Lyon. Only a defeat from Lille could allow Rennes to be leading Ligue 1 at the end of the 25th match day on the Sunday evening.
- Théophile-Catherine succeeds to Briand :
Involuntarily countering a save by Nicolas Douchez, Kévin Théophile-Catherine was the unlucky author of Toulouse’s equaliser. He is the first Rennes player to score an own goal this season.
The last player to have scored an own goal with Rennes was Jimmy Briand, on May 2nd, 2010, during a home defeat to Sochaux (1-2).
- Yann M’Vila, second :
After scoring on a penalty against Arles-Avignon, it is on a free-kick, after a tap pass by Stéphane Dalmat, that Yann M’Vila scored the second goal of his career in Ligue 1, his third this season in all competitions.
No Rennes goal has been scored on a direct free-kick this season. Until then, the only goal by the “Rouge et Noir” following a free-kick had been scored… against Toulouse, on a header by Mangane. The last Rennais to have scored on a direct free-kick still remains Jérôme Leroy, during Rennes – Boulogne, the first game of the 2009-2010 season.
- Dalmat, no inspiration but an assist :
Replaced by Frédéric Antonetti at half-time, Stéphane Dalmat displayed a cruel lack of inspiration for his return to the competition. After miscuing several free-kicks, the former Sochaux man finally decided to let M’Vila strike the next one during the injury time of the first half. A wise decision, which would lead to his second assist of the season. The first was given to Kader Mangane, during Rennes – Sochaux (2-1). Again, this was a goal during injury time, but in the second half this time.
- At the Stadium, the story remains the same :
After already dominating the first leg, Toulouse faced a repeat of the previous confrontation during this return leg. Just as it happened at the Route de Lorient, Rennes scored first and finally won the game. As in the first leg (59%), Toulouse had much of the possession (62%) against a Rennes team used to play possession football in most of their games this season.
During the pre-match press conference, Alain Casanova explained that the game in Rennes had been a real blow to his squad. “The way we were beaten was difficult to accept, the Toulouse manager explained. We then went through a difficult time. That’s why we take this game to heart, and every one really wants to take three points”.
Far from revenge, history repeated itself at the Stadium. “The defeat will be difficult to digest, Casanova admitted after the game. We try to improve, to progress, and when I see the playing intentions of my teams, the ability to transmit the ball, the chances created, this is really looking good for the future. But football isn’t only that: If you don’t take your chances, you get punished”.
- Montaño again:
By scoring the winning goal, Victor Hugo Montaño became the first Rennes player to take (and score) two penalties this season. Until then, seven different takers had tried their luck, with more or less success. With this goal, Montaño comforts his position as Rennes’ best goal scorer of the season, with an eighth goal in all competitions, his sixth in Ligue 1.
Also to be noted, this is the first time this season that the Colombian managed to score in consecutive games. His last goal on the road had been scored… during the last away victory by Rennes, in Nice (1-2). In both cases, Montaño waited for the last minutes of the game to score the winning goal.
- In Toulouse, goalkeepers come and go:
The temporary absence of Matthieu Valverde, on top of the much longer one of Yohann Pelé (read previously), had forced Alain Casanova to start the game with youngster Marc Vidal in the goals. Starting his second game in Ligue 1, Vidal had mixed fortunes, saving his team in front of Montaño (39’) before failing to control M’Vila’s free-kick (45’+2)
On the action leading to the penalty at the end of the game, the young goalkeeper was unfortunately injured in a clash with Jérôme Leroy. As a result, his substitute Ali Ahamada, aged 20, replaced him in the goals for his first Ligue 1 appearance.
- The defence keeps on holding :
Still without Kader Mangane and Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, Frédéric Antonetti gave another start to the centre back partnership composed of Théophile-Catherine and Boye. For his second game in Ligue 1, the Ghanaian defender managed a very good performance, widely recognized in the media this Monday.
Struggling to cope in the first half, Rennes’ defence finally hung on, only beaten by Théophile-Catherine’s bad luck. A good omen, before the two first-choice centre backs return.
- The objectives remain the same :
Questioned after the game on Stade Rennes’ objectives after reducing their gap on Lille by three points, Frédéric Antonetti refused to change his speech. “We have to be reasonable, there are five teams above us, the Rennes manager reminded. I always said we are in the second hat, with teams such as Saint-Étienne and Toulouse. Lille, Lyon or Marseille have a margin of operation superior to ours. Now, if some of the big boys are missing, we will do our best to be the same as Auxerre or Montpellier last season. What is sure, is that we will stick to them like crabs, or rather like leeches, it sounds better”.
- Declarations from : ouest-france.fr
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