Flashback : Rennes - Avignon in 1980

In its rich history, Stade Rennais FC only came across the team from Provence in three occasions, but if one encounter deserves to be remembered, it certainly the double confrontation during the 1979-1980 season. Aside a victory against Avignon in 1967 (3-1 in the Coupe de France, with a brace of Sylvester Takac notably), SRFC challenged the club from the Papal city in the play-offs, 30 years ago. Flashback

This was a golden time, where the Division 2 was still split in two groups, an era the youngest can’t know: The second in Group A was generally facing the third in Group B and vice-versa. Then, both winners would meet, still in two-legged ties. And it wasn’t the end: the winner of this second match-up between D2 clubs was invited to take on the 18th in Division 1. A true obstacle race, to gain the right to play in the French top-flight for the following season. These hard-fought games, played after the term of the regular season, were sometimes triggering delays to the transfer period, as the teams were often giving a term to their season by the middle of June. However, those who had the chance to witness those encounters often keep unforgettable memories (the most marking example may be Rouen-Rennes, at the end of the 1984-1985 season, and the Stade’s victory in the middle of the night, 7 penalties to 6). Often thrilling, always passionate, these matches were the epitome of an “all or nothing” match.

At the beginning of the 1979-1980 season, Pierre Garcia, the new SRFC manager arrived during the break –and who had left the club as a player six years later – did not hide his target for the season: “If our team doesn’t finish in the top 3, I will consider I have failed”. Soon, the results were proving him right, and Stade Rennes installed itself at the top of the league standings. A tough battle was then disputed with FC Tours, with the latter leading the pack with half of the season played. Tours saw Rennes rushing back progressively in the wake of twelve games without a defeat between the winter and the early spring, but eventually managed to hold on to a thin advantage, with the “Rouge et Noir” slackening in the season’s later stages. A defeat by the narrowest of margins (1-0, April 26th, 1980), at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher and against their main opponent, forced Rennes to target the second position only, only just managed in front of the Breton neighbours from Guingamp. The aim set before the season was reached brilliantly however. Rennes finished second behind FC Tours, thanks in particular to the efficiency of their attacking du Robert Llorens - Guy Nosibor (ten goals each in the League). Also to be noted, Rennes managed the exploit not to lose a single game at home on that season, a really rare fact in the club’s history.

By finishing second in Group A with 19 victories and 8 draws (60 goals scored, 30 conceded), Stade Rennes came close to managing a direct promotion to the first division. Instead, Rennes was forced to play a promotion play-off against the Olympique Avignonnais, second of the Group B behind Guy Roux’ AJ Auxerre. The Olympique Avignon, which had played in the first division four years later (for what was the club’s only season in the French top flight at the time, finishing at the last position in the league). During the season, Avignon managed an excellent run and managed 20 victories for 4 draws and 10 defeats. The Provencal club scored 54 goals and conceded 41, before earning the right to feature in the play-off with a success against Paris FC (1-0) on the last match day of the season, in front of the biggest attendance of the season, 9000 spectators. The Avignon team finished the league like a storm, with seven consecutive victories (from 28th to 34th matchday)

For the fourth time in its history, Stade Rennes FC played in the promotion play-offs and faced Avignon at the end of May 1980. On the other side, former Rennes defender Alain Rizzo (1972-1977) and attacking midfielder Gérard Lanthier, who would play with the “Rouge et Noir” during two seasons a few years later (1985-1987). During the first leg at the Route de Lorient, in front of a relatively reduced attendance for such an important fixture (6,986 spectators only), the Rennes player dominated… But would not manage to take the advantage on the Vaucluse team, with the teams parting on a goalless draw (0-0). A great result for Avignon, which would turn to be a decisive advantage at the time of hosting their Breton opponent for the “revenge” at the parc des sports d’Avignon. Three days later, Pierre Garcia’s men were eventually beaten 3-2, despite goals by René Izquierdo and Robert Llorens. The Rennes players did not manage to live up to their expectations, and were logically beaten over the two games.

First leg...

Stade Rennais 0 - 0 Avignon
Promotion Play-offs D2
Saturday, May 24th 1980

Stade de la route de Lorient
Attendance : 6.986 spectators

- Stade Rennais FC : Vaast - Mastroianni (Bageot), Kerjean, Izquierdo, Berlin - Rampillon, Barraud, Llorens - Nosibor, N’Doye (Zlataric), Saliné.

Return leg...

Avignon 3 - 2 Stade Rennais
Promotion Play-offs D2
Tuesday, May 27th 1980

Parc des Sports d’Avignon
Attendance : 7.000 spectators

Goals : Izquierdo and Llorens for Rennes.

- Stade Rennais FC : Vaast, Bageot (Mastroianni), Kerjean, Izquierdo, Berlin - Rampillon, Anafal - Llorens - Nosibor, N’Doye (Barraud), Saliné.

Stade Rennes was therefore forced to spend, in 1980-1981, a fourth consecutive season in the second division. As for Olympique Avignon, they eventually fell against Olympique Lyonnais, 18th in Division1, at the second round of the play-offs (0-6 in Lyon, 4-2 in Avignon). The “White and Blue” remained in Division 2. The aftermath was painful for the Provence club. Seventeen in the Second Divison’s group A the next year, Olympique Avignon was relegated in Division 3 (D3) and lost its professional status because of financial difficulties. It would take year for the club to see the light again, with a return in second division ten years later, during the 1989-1990 season.

1980

1st Round:
Stade Rennais FC (2nd D2A) / Olympique Avignonnais (2nd D2B) : 0-0 ; 2-3
2nd Round : :
Olympique Lyonnais (18th D1) / Olympique Avignonnais : 6-0 ; 2-4

Stade Rennais 1979-1980, knocked-out in the play-offs

Sources :
- forum footnostalgie
- « Le Stade rennais, fleuron du football breton » de Claude Loire, Ed. Apogée.

Photos :
- forum footnostalgie