Stade Rennais - Lille: With many regrets

Perfect Inefficiency

On July 21st, after his team’s first friendly defeat against Brest (0-1), Frédéric Antonetti was expressing all his doubts: "We won’t be ready in time”. The Stade Rennais environment started to worry immediately, with vivid memories of last season’s catastrophic ending.

Looking at tonight’s encounter against Lille (1-1), Rennes can actually build real ambitions, as long as they can repeat similar performances with more efficiency. The only downside of this evening, indeed, was this recurrent inability to convert clear goal scoring opportunities.

After a tactical first few minutes, Brahimi passed to Dalmat in the centre of the field and the former Sochaux man launched Leroy on the right wing. The Rennais playmaker shot was diverted in corner by Landreau (9’). Gradually, the Rennes squad was shaping and showing more and more initiative in the attacking phases, with Dalmat’s influence and Brahimi’s technique to inspire the team.

Leroy smashed a twenty meter free-kick on Landreau’s crossbar (15’) as the Lille goalkeeper was well beaten. Struggling, Lille managed to reply however, Debuchy profiting of approximations in Rennes’ defence to challenge Douchez on a one-to-one, but his volley rattled the crossbar (21’)

Two minutes later, Rennes created themselves another golden occasion at the end of a beautiful move directed by Leroy. His back to the goal, Bangoura diverted the ball for Marveaux, who could only find Landreau’s side netting (23’). This was only a matter of time however, and on a new acceleration by Brahimi, Marveaux received the ball in the centre and transmitted to Bangoura, alone behind the defence. Bangoura did not think twice, and scored the first goal of the game, despite a clear offside position (1-0, 25’).

A well-deserved goal for the Guinean international, who had showed lot of good intentions in the game since the first minutes. And a clear proof of his competitiveness sent to his management, who listed him for transfer a few days ago. In the first half’s additional time, Sow put too much angle in his cross-shot against Douchez, and Lille was trailing at the break.

Remember Moussa Sow, Mr. Antonetti?

As the second half started Lille were confronted to the very same issues against Rennes’ very high pressing. Unable to put their hand on the game, the Lillois didn’t show much as the clock was ticking near the one-hour mark. Unstoppable, Brahimi was very close to score his first goal in the French top flight, but he failed to find the target.

On a defensive mistake by Rennes, however, Hazard ran free in the Rennes penalty area and crossed against the bar, but Sow was present at the far post to head the ball in Douchez’ goal (1-1, 62’). Left out of the first squad for most of last season after he refused to extend his contract in Rennes, Sow gave his former manager a hard time. Launched behind the defence by Hazard, it took a classy save by Douchez to avoid a second goal by the former “Rouge et Noir” (69’).

In the last twenty minutes, Rennes pushed to try and make the difference. At the end of a powerful run on the left side, Kembo-Ekoko crossed for Dalmat’s header, but Landreau managed to divert the ball (72’). Five minutes later, Kembo curled his shot from the eighteen meter line but Landreau managed to parry it once more (77’).

Few minutes later, The “Rouge et Noir” thought they finally had managed to make the difference. Mangane’s header was denied by a world-class save from Landreau, but Danzé followed to give his team the lead. The goal was rightly refused however, for a clear offside position (82’). In the last seconds of the game, Kembo Ekoko ran away from the defence and delivered a pinpoint cross for Gyan. The Ghanaian international’s header ran just wide however, and the score wasn’t to change anymore.

Game Facts

STADE RENNAIS FC 1 - 1 LILLE OSC (Half-time: 1-0)

Ligue 1, Game Week 1
Saturday, August 7th 2010, 21h00

Stade de la Route de Lorient
Attendance : 21 442 spectators

Referee: Mr. Sébastien Moreira

Goals : Bangoura (25’) for Rennes ; Sow (61’) for Lille.

Yellow Cards : Mangane (27’), Danzé (34’), Lemoine (82’) for Rennes ; Mavuba (39’), Debuchy (68’), Rami (84’) for Lille.

- Stade Rennais FC : Douchez - Danzé, Fanni, Mangane (cap.), Théophile-Catherine - Lemoine, Dalmat, Leroy - Brahimi (Kembo-Ekoko, 71’), Bangoura (Gyan, 59’), Marveaux (Mandjeck, 64’).

Manager: Frédéric Antonetti.

- Lille OSC : Landreau - Debuchy, Béria, Rami, Emerson - Mavuba (cap), Balmont, Dumont (De Melo, 53’) - Sow (Obraniak, 78’), Frau (Gervinho, 64’), Hazard.

Manager: Rudi Garcia.