Stade Rennais - Brest : A confirmation is expected

Rennes for a second victory

After a sluggish first encounter against Nantes (1-1), Rennes came back to winning ways three days later against Laval, with a large 3-0 win. An important success at this stage of the pre-season, especially since the players were coming out of a very intense seven days training camp in Carnac.

Unbeaten against Ligue 2 sides since the beginning of their friendlies, Rennes will now face their first top-flight opposition. To build on their successful beginnings, Frederic Antonetti’s men will have to confirm the state of mind seen against Laval, even if everything wasn’t "perfect", as the coach reminded on the club’s official website: "It’s only normal. We had an intense game, a very intense training camp. I have to recognise we were quite passive in the first half, but seeing the full team in action allows us to see how the squad is evolving as a whole”.

Accustomed to changing his side completely at half time on friendlies, as it appeared last season, Antonetti is likely to share the playing time equally between his players, before maybe starting to refine his group as the first League Gameweek, against Lille in less than three weeks approaches.

For this game, the Rennes manager will have to do without Onyekachi Apam, expected to re-join collective training on the 26th August along with Asamoah Gyan. Victim of an ankle injury, Fabien Lemoine could not play the game against Laval. As for Alexander Tettey, he still hasn’t fully recovered from his quadriceps injury, which keeps on limiting his ability. At this moment, doubt remains on the latter two players’ participation to the friendly game against Brest.

- The Squad : Carrasso, Douchez, N’Diaye - Boye, Danzé, Dembélé, Fanni, Jebbour, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Souprayen, Théophile-Catherine - Brahimi, Dalmat (?), Doumbia, Lemoine (?), Leroy, M’Vila, Mandjeck, Marveaux, Oniangue - Badiane, Bangoura, Camara, Kembo-Ekoko, Montaño.

Times of surprises?

If one thing has to be observed since the pre-season began, it has to be the new generation’s spontaneity. The young players are not in any doubt, very aware of their quality. First choice at left back since Carlos Bocanegra’s departure to Saint-Etienne, Samuel Souprayen is incredible of serenity, despite his new status at the club: "So far, it’s all going well, I’ve got a great relation with the coach, I spoke a lot with him and he told me I would give me a chance"., he declares.

A discussion Antonetti probably had with other players such as Abdoul Camara, who could be the team’s good surprise in the next few weeks. Last year already, the French-guinean player had shown a great ability during the pre-season, getting on the score sheet against Brest on the process, before being loaned to Vannes (Ligue 2). Explosive, his livelihood is a definite asset to Rennes’ attacking tactics, and he proved it by forcing the decision in two occasions, last Saturday, against Laval.

Immediately after the break, he gave an assist to Lhadji Badiane. Seven minutes later, He went on his own towards the Laval goal, but his powerful hot was only pushed back by the goalkeeper into Badiane’s feet, delighted to score his second goal of the night. No doubt he would love to show his quality again against Brest, a team openly targeting him since the transfer market has opened.

In midfield, Yacine Brahimi rises his game gradually, has he explained to Ouest France on Tuesday: “At the moment, I’m gaining confidence, I’ve got more and more automatisms in the group, and the group is improving quickly". Same echo from Tongo Hamed Doumbia, a holding midfielder with an ability to create the danger in attacking phases of the game. A rangy player (1m91, 79kg), he’s shown a good use of the ball, and realised a very interesting seasons with the reserve last year, sharing the best performance with his midfield counterpart Vincent Pajot. He certainly has what it takes to create a fierce competition for positions in midfield.

Brest make themselves ready

19 years later, the Stade Brestois finally managed to come back to the top flight last year, finishing the league in the second position, only two points behind Caen. Willing to keep some balance in their squad, Brest managed to avoid too many major departures, and kept –so far- their best elements such as their center midfield Bruno Grougi or their striker, Nolan Roux, once a target of Rennes’ recruitment unit.

Filippos Darlas (Panathinaïkos), Gaëtan Deneuve (Châteauroux), Gandi N’Goyi (Paris SG, loan), Mario Licka (Banik Ostrava), Tomas Micola (Banik Ostrava) and Fodie Traoré (Quevilly) signed for Brest. As for departures, only Mathias Autret’s transfer to Lorient is causing debate in the Finistere.

So far in their pre-season, started on June 29th, Alex Dupont and his men have played three friendlies. They won the first, beating Istres (2-1) thanks to a brace of goals by winger Benoît Lesoimier. Taking part in the Paul Le Hesran challenge along with Lorient and Vannes, Brest acquired a lot of confidence by winning the regional competition. After beating Vannes with goals from Bruno Grougi, Nolan Roux and Davy Laot, Dupont’s men held Christian Gourcuff’s Lorient to draw (1-1), before winning the game on penalty shootouts.

A real satisfaction for the Finisterian club, whose players are getting ready to discover Ligue 1 and brand new sensations, as defender Grégory Lorenzi explained at the end of the Lorient game: "Lorient were more in place, but we managed to find our marks, we did a few nice moves and we remained solid and organised. As for the impacts, it’s a bit new for us, we’ll have to get used to it but we will get there. Even though this is only friendlies, we want to get positive results, we are competitors above all".

- The Squad : Elana, Deneuve, Pontdemé - Brou Apanga, Coulibaly, Coty, Daf, Darlas, Ferradj, Kantari, Lorenzi, N’Goyi, N’Tamé - Bigné, Ewolo, Coulibaly, Grougi, Licka, Traoré - Laot, Lesoimier, Micola, Poyet, Roux.

- Stade Rennais - Brest, friendly game, Wednesday July 21th, 18h30, Stade municipal de Combourg