Caen - Stade Rennais : the history

The Opposition

Founded in 1913 after the merging of the two Caen clubs, Stade Malherbe de Caen have played eleven seasons in the French top flight so far in their history, climaxing on beautiful fifth place in the League during the 1991/1992 season. The Lower Normandy team was also a Coupe de la Ligue finalist in 2005, losing to RC Strasbourg in the final (1-2).

In Europe, Caen has only recorded one participation to the UEFA Cup, during the 1992/1993 season, losing on the first round again Spanish side Real Saragossa ( 3-2 & 0-2). The team was also French Ligue 2 champion in 1996.
Sur la scène continentale, l’équipe caennaise compte une seule participation pour la Coupe de l’UEFA lors de l’exercice 1992/1993, éliminée au premier tour de cette compétition par les ibériques du Réal Saragosse (3-2 & 0-2). Par ailleurs, la formation malherbiste fut championne de France de Ligue 2 en 1996.

Several big names in French and European football have played for the Normand club. Fabrice Divert (trained at the club’s Academy), Michel Rio, Benoît Cauet, Stéphane Paille, Xavier Gravelaine, Gabriel Calderon, Kennet Andersson or more recently William Gallas have written some of the finest pages in the club’s history.

Previous meetings

The confrontations between Rennes and Caen are rare, with the latter having spent few years in the top flight, and their best period matching difficult times for Stade Rennais FC.

Before their seven meetings in the 1st division, most games between the teams were played on the second level of French football. Since the early 1990’s, the assessment isn’t glorious for Rennes, since the Breton capital’s club never managed to win at Michel-d’Ornano (or at Venoix) in Ligue 1.

During the 2007/2008 season, the « Rouge et Noir » had snatched a draw at the last minute through Jimmy Briand, and kept their hopes to qualify for the UEFA Intertoto Cup alive. Jérôme Leroy had scored the first goal of the game, before Caen equalised and took the advantage during the second half (final score: 2-2)

A year later, and despite total domination on the game, especially during the first half, Guy Lacombe’s players did not manage a victory, conceding another draw in Normandy (1-1). Caen had scored first just before half-time, and it wasn’t until the last fifteen minutes that Moussa Sow slotted in a good delivery by Jimmy Briand to equalise.

- 2008/2009 Season : Douchez - Fanni, Hansson (cap), Aubey, Bocanegra - Leroy (Sow, 76’), Lemoine, Cheyrou, Kembo Ekoko (Wiltord, 71’) - Pagis (Echiejile, 83’), Briand.

Summary of Caen - Stade Rennes in L1 : 7 matches played, 2 Caen victories, 5 draws and no Rennes victory. 12 goals to Caen, 6 to Rennes.

Last Rennes goal scorer : Moussa Sow (December 6th, 2008)

Last ten Caen - Stade Rennais

- 2008/09 (L1) : Draw 1-1 (Nivet / Sow)
- 2007/08 (L1) : Draw 2-2 (Compan & Nivet / Leroy & Briand)
- 2004/05 (L1) : Draw 2-2 (Eudeline & Watier / Frei & Ouaddou)
- 1996/97 (D1) : Draw 0-0
- 1994/95 (D1) : Caen wins 5-1(Grassi for Rennes)
- 1991/92 (D1) : Draw 0-0
- 1990/91 (D1) : Caen wins 2-0
- 1987/88 (D2) : Caen wins 3-2 (Le Goff & L. Delamontagne for Rennes)
- 1984/85 (D2) : Caen wins 2-1 (Relmy for Rennes)
- 1980/81 (D2) : Rennes wins 6-2 (Saliné 3, Berlin, Steck & Morin for Rennes)

* Malherbe, 1986-1987 season

Sources :
- Stade Rennais Online Archives