Europa League, Stade Rennais 1 - 1 Celtic Glasgow. The opposition changes, the story remain the same: after opening the score in the first half, Rennes was once again caught back in the second half. With two points in three games, qualification for the next round of the Europa League seems a distant dream.
With a sole point earned in the first two games, Stade Rennes had no room for error in order to try and remain in the race to qualify for Europa League’s knockout rounds, this Thursday evening against Celtic Glasgow. The Scots could count on a huge support, with close to 2000 fans having come to Brittany to back the “Bhoys” in the stands of the Route de Lorient.
The show was present in the stands then, but not really on the pitch. Except for a shot by Kayal (1’) for Celtic, the 22 players started the game slowly. Rennes tried to pass the ball around cleanly while Celtic showed patient and avoided rushing the action. It would take until the 10th minute until Rennes had an embryo of a chance, Mangane sending his header on the outside netting. Three minutes later, in open play, Hadji was just a bit short to connect to a deep pass by Féret (13’). The former man would earn a corner-kick on the next action, well served by Boukari after a good combination (14’).
Rennes was slightly dominating but not really showing dangerous, to the contrary of Celtic who would create two chances within a minute. At the 23rd minute, Stokes eliminated Mangane with a good right-footed dribble before facing Costil, who pushed away the Irish striker’s effort. A minute later, Ki Sung-Young placed his shot wide (24’). The Scottish club had had its best opportunity of the game and seemed more assured, but their mood would soon darken. On a clearance by Costil, Chad-Du-Ri’s back pass beat his own keeper, and allowed Rennes to open the score on a massive blunder (1-0, 31’)! Rennes had the advantage on the pitch and on the score-board, Celtic had the chances despite a rather poor first half.
Back from thebreak, although the playing standard remained below par, it was Celtic who took control of the ball. Stade Rennes would show dangerous through Mavinga, who lost his duel against Forster after a well-worked chance by the “Rouge et Noir” (55’), before facing the Scottish storm. Stokes was first to exploit a massive misunderstanding between Mangane and Mavinga - both rushing for the ball carrier – to recover the ball in the penalty area before being denied by Costil (63’). A minute later, Cha-Du-Ri was next to stumble on Costil (64’). The Rennes keeper punched the ball away in the feet of Ki Sung-Yong, but the South-Korean didn’t hit the target (64’).
Ledley would give the final blow. On a header following a perfect delivery by Mulgrew, the Celtic player equalised logically for his team (1-1, 70’). Rennes had to raise its game to hope for success, and saw a well-known scenario repeat itself: after opening the score, the Bretons were caught once again. Antonetti’s men would show a reaction however: pressure would be mainly on Forster’s goals in the last twenty minutes. At the 71st minute, Pitroipa was just a bit too short to connect to Kembo’s cross. Kembo then attempted at goal but without success (74’) before Féret (77’) did the same. Hadji wouldn’t have more luck, despite a superb overhead kick (79’).
Despite a lively end of the game and a last chance effort by Kembo deflected away for a corner by Forster, Stade Rennes is still without a victory in a European Cup group phase. Against a team they could have beaten, the Bretons lacked aggressiveness and determination to make the difference. The qualification is still possible, but it is now a remote possibility. It will imperatively include a win at Celtic Park, in two weeks for the return leg.
STADE RENNAIS FC 1 - 1 CELTIC GLASGOW (half-time : 1-0)
Europa League, Group I, Game Week 3
Thursday, October 20th 2011, 19:00
Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 21 825 spectators
Referee : Robert Malek
Goals : Cha Du-Ri (31’, o.g.) for Rennes. Ledley (70’) for Celtic.
- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Jebbour, Kana-Biyik, Mangane (cap), Mavinga (Théophile-Catherine, 77’) - Tettey, Féret, Pajot - Boukari (Kembo, 58’), Hadji, Brahimi (Pitroipa, 58’).
Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.
- Celtic Glasgow : Forster - Cha Du-Ri, Loovens, Mulgrew (cap), Matthews - Forrest, Kayal, Wanyama, Ki Sung-Yong (Bangura, 89’), Ledley - Stokes.
Manager : Neil Lennon.
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