Luck and realism combine for a successful opening

5 goals to 1: the score line is big, and flattering for Rennes, but it could have been totally different. Indeed, how would that game have turned if Brice Jovial, scoring with a header at the 7th minute, had not seen his goal disallowed for an inexistent offside position? The beginning of the match was completely in favour of Dijon who, immediately, put a heavy pressure on the Rennes goal, as on that shot by Sankharé bouncing on the top of Costil’s crossbar (3’). Dijon was even seeing a second goal disallowed for offside - rightly so this time - at the 16th minute, when Thil pushed the ball in the Rennes goal after Costil parried a shot by Bauthéac. Far from subdued for their first Ligue 1 game, Carteron’s men caused much difficulty to a Rennes defence sometimes struggling to clear their area.

Féret misses a penalty

Rennes replied at the 15th minute. Montaño was at the receiving end of a cross from Théophile-Catherine but the Colombian, included in the starting eleven for the first time this season, saw his effort denied by Padovani, who pushed the ball away for a corner. As the game went on, Rennes started to get in the game and develop its football, exploiting all the width of the pitch, with Pitroipa putting the Dijon defence to the sword with his dribbling. For Rennes, the danger was often coming through Montaño. At the 26th minute, he escaped on the right side of the Dijon defence, managed to cut across before hitting a shot over Padovani’s goal. The very same Montaño later caused a penalty, when he was brought down by Paulle’s – mistimed – tackle in the area (29’). Taken by Féret, the spot kick was missed for the Stade Rennais however (30’).

The Bretons wouldn’t miss the opportunity to unlock the scoreboard a few minutes later though. On a counter, Montaño was at the receiving end of a delivery by Boukari to beat Padovani (0-1, 34’). From goal scorer, the Colombian turned into a playmaker when he beautifully nutmegged Méïté to deliver to Féret, who doubled Rennes’ advantage (0-2, 37’). The former Nancy-man had made up for his missed penalty and allowed Rennes, within three minutes, to realise the break. The two goals advantage would be short-lived however: in the injury time of the first half, following a free-kick, Thil crossed and Jovial propelled the ball into Costil’s goal with a header (1-2, 45+1’).

Rennes in control

In the second half, Rennes profited of an error by Dijon’s defence to increase their advantage. Just after the break, Boukari exploited a bad clearance and run alone to beat Padovani and score Rennes’ third goal (1-3, 50’). Antonetti’s men seemed to have built a safe lead, but they were still not completely protected against a Dijon reaction. However, as in the first half, lady luck would once again smile to the “Rouge et Noir” or, more to the point, bad luck remained on Dijon’s side. They were awarded a penalty-kick after a foul on Jovial, but Thil hit it against the post (52’). Two goals disallowed for offside positions, two missed penalties: for their first game in the top flight, Dijon experienced a gripping encounter.

Carteron’s men troubles weren’t over yet, although the game’s tempo had fallen again. Rennes was in control, but still created dangerous situations on the set pieces: at the 75th minute, on a corner taken by Féret, Mangane cut the trajectory of the ball to score Rennes’ fourth goal (1-4, 75’). The score line was harsh for Dijon, who played valiantly, and would get even heavier. Tettey, entered a few minutes earlier, placed a shot between Padovani’s legs, scoring the Bretons’ fifth goal (1-5, 85’). Rennes had a walk in the park, Dijon collapsed. A good beginning of the season against a promoted team, which should not be used to ignore some of the lacks shown by Rennes during the game, particularly in defence. The match against Paris Saint-Germain, next week, will be a real test in that aspect.

Match Facts

DIJON FCO 1 - 5 STADE RENNAIS FC (half time : 1-2)

Ligue 1, 1st Game Week
Sunday, August 7th 2011, 17:00

Stadium Gaston Gérard
Attendance : 13 754 spectators

Referee : Fredy Fautrel

Goals : Montaño (34’), Féret (36’), Boukari (50’), Mangane (75’), Tettey (85’) for Rennes ; Jovial (45+1’) for Dijon.

Yellow Cards : Théophile-Catherine (37’), Boye (87’) for Rennes ; Sankharé (17’), Paulle (42’), Bauthéac (48’) for Dijon.

- Stade rennais FC : Costil - Danzé, Mangane (cap.), Kana-Biyik (Boye, 51’), Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Doumbia (Mandjeck, 73’), Féret - Pitroipa, Montaño, Boukari (Tettey, 82’).

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- Dijon FCO : Padovani - Paulle, Z. Diallo, Méïté (cap), Souprayen - Guerbert (Mandanne, 66’), Corgnet, Sankharé, Bauthéac (Caceres, 66’) - Jovial, Thil (Matsui, 66’).

Manager : Patrice Carteron.