Europa League, Atlético Madrid 3 - 1 Stade rennais. By conceding three goals, all caused by individual errors, Stade Rennais has once again failed despite a good start to the game. With a reshuffled starting eleven, Rennes was equal to Atlético Madrid before collapsing in the closing ten minutes of the first half. A very costly absence.
The 2011-2012 European adventure of Stade Rennais is over, concluded by a last game at the Vicente Calderon, and sealed by yet another game without a win. As in Udine or in Glasgow, Rennes’ start was good, even very good, as proved by the will of Frédéric Antonetti’s players to bring the game in the camp of a Spanish team probably inhibited by the internal tensions it faces since a few days.
Hopes to manage a first success could be seen as plausible, strengthened by an encouraging start from Rennes in which Tettey had the bad idea to scuff his volley on a perfect cross by Jebbour (4’). Lacking precision in the final pass, Rennes showed particularly dangerous on set pieces, perfectly taken by Brahimi. After Mandjeck headed wide (8’), Mavinga’s header bounced off the crossbar (16’).
At this level of competition, any mistake can trigger big consequences. For not having learnt its lesson, Rennes paid for it (once again) throughout the game. Rather than controlling the run of Adrian, Mandjeck conceded a penalty by pushing the Madrid forward in the box. Falcao didn’t miss the target and sent Diallo the wrong way (1-0, 36’). A few minutes later, as if it wasn’t enough, Diallo, until there spotless, misread the ball’s trajectory and followed a header by Dominguez in his own net (2-0, 43’). Two chances in this first half for Atlético Madrid, who had struggled to come into the game, and the Spaniards were sitting on a comfortable two-goal lead.
Rennes had paid a heavy price for a couple of individual mistakes, but the “Rouge et Noir” were still trying to correct things, as when Brahimi’s volley was deflected by Asenjo (56’) befopre a header by Pajot skimmed the upright of the Spanish goalkeeper’s goal (57’). However, Rennes’ flaws were soon surfacing once again. Diallo missed his clearance, and the ball was immediately recovered by Diego. The Rennes goalkeeper made up for it by winning is one to one against the Brazilian international. On the other hand, the gamble made by Frédéric Antonetti to give playing time to players missing it was rewarding, especially illustrated by the performance of Foulquier, who proposed a lot of solutions on his right flank, without seeing his work truly rewarded.
Apam, meanwhile, lost a ball in his own penalty area. Arda didn’t need more to eliminate Mandjeck with a dribble and place a curled shot to extend his team’s lead (3-0, 79’). A very harsh score line for Stade Rennais, who didn’t give up their effort to try and grab a goal. Mandjeck, with the shoulder, reduced the gap on a corner-kick by Brahimi (3-1, 86’). The gesture made by the Cameroonese international towards his bench gives a clear view of his grudge, and will probably trigger a few interpretations in the coming days. Meanwhile, Stade Rennes is still waiting for its first European victory in the group phases…
ATLÉTICO MADRID 3 - 1 STADE RENNAIS FC (half-time : 2-0)
Europa League, Group I, Game Week 6
Thursday, December 15th 2011, 21:05
Estadio Vicente-Calderon
Attendance : About 20 000 spectators
Referee: M. Jacobsson
Buts : Falcao (38’ pen.), Dominguez (42’) and Turan (79’) for Madrid ; Mandjeck (86’) for Rennes.
Yellow Cards: Assunção (14’) for Madrid ; Apam (24’) for Rennes.
- Stade Rennais FC : Diallo - Foulquier, Apam, Mandjeck, Mavinga - Tettey, Doumbia, Pajot - Jebbour (Diarra, 87’), Montaño (cap), Hadji, 66’), Brahimi (Féret, 87’).
Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.
- Atlético Madrid : Asenjo - Perea (Miranda, 65’), Godin, Dominguez, Filipe Luis - Assunção - Koke, Diego (Tiago, 76’), Turan (Juanfran, 81’) - Falcao, Adrian.
Manager: Gregorio Manzano.
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