Spotless Rennes return to winning ways

Rennes pressing high

To press high as soon as the game starts: this was probably the instruction given by Frédéric Antonetti to his players before kick-off. An instruction perfectly respected by the “Rouge et Noir” in the first minutes of the game, in which the Rennais, well positioned, put pressure on the Lyon team with a strong athletic impact. Stade Rennais entered the game well, and the Bretons were the first to show dangerous with a shot off target by Pitroipa (10’), following a poor clearance from Cris. Two minutes later, Montaño was at the reception of a cross by Théophile-Catherine to place his header on the left post of Lloris’ goal (12’). Rennes had created the best chance of the game so far, while, for Lyon, Lacazette failed to test Costil at the receiving end of a cross by Källström (11’).

However, Lyon would soon have two huge chances to open the score through Gomis. First, receiving a pass from Briand, the striker saw his shot superbly tipped away by Costil (18’) before Kembo cleared the ball on the following corner (19’). The Rennais saved his team on the goal-line! Rennes was lucky and reacted with a shot over the goal by Féret (23’) and a header by Kana-Biyik going wide (32’), but Lyon’s pressure grew stronger. On another corner-kick, Kallstrom’s shot was deflected in the goal by Ederson (1-0, 36’). Unable to see the shot, the Rennes keeper didn’t stand a chance. Antonetti’s men reacted immediately however: from the limit of the penalty area, Féret slipped the ball through to Pitroipa who took the advantage on Koné and equalised (1-1, 39’). Although Lyon had been dominant since 15 minutes, Rennes’ equaliser wasn’t undeserved looking at the many chances created by the “Rouge et Noir”, and the teams went in for the break all even despite a final shot by Réveillère on the post (40’)

Rennes, Lyon’s pet peeve

The first half was action-packed, and so would the second turn to be. At the 53rd minute, Rennes took the lead when M’Vila – struggling to have an effect thus far in the game – recovered a ball badly cleared by Källström and transmitted it to Kembo who came to beat Lloris (1-2, 53’). On a perfectly taken counter, Pitroipa then hit the crossbar of Lyon’s goal. Even though the Burkinabe was offside, Antonetti’s men had just shown how quick they could act in counter-attacks. Lyon was in real trouble, and the entrances of Bastos and Lisandro (62’) wouldn’t change a thing. Rennes was even close to score a third goal when Doumbia ripped through the right flank to pass the ball back to Féret, but the playmaker’s shot went just wide off Lloris’ goal (63’). Pitroipa wasn’t any luckier on acceleration, stumbling on the Lyon keeper.

Rennes was so close to the break, but couldn’t score this third goal that would secure the win. By winning in Gerland however, Stade Rennes confirm they really are Lyon’s pet peeve, having not lost a game on their pitch since nearly seven years. Rennes also prove that the international break benefit them: each time this season, the Bretons have taken all three points after those periods (in Marseille and against Lorient). Last but not least, it had been nearly two years since Stade Rennes had not won a game after trailing in Ligue 1. The beginning of good run?

Match Facts

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS 1 - 2 STADE RENNAIS FC (half-time : 1-1)

Ligue 1, Game Week 14
Friday, November 18th, 20:00

Stade Gerland
Attendance : 34 123 spectators

Referee : Laurent Duhamel

Goals : Ederson (36’) for Lyon. Pitroipa (39’), Kembo (53’) for Rennes.

Yellow Cards : Gomis (60’), Gourcuff (83’), Bastos (84’) for Lyon. Doumbia (27’), Théophile-Catherine (86’), Costil (90+1’) for Rennes.

- Stade Rennais FC : Costil - Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Mandjeck, Théophile-Catherine - M’Vila, Doumbia, Féret - Kembo (Hadji, 73’), Montaño, Pitroipa.

Manager : Frédéric Antonetti.

- Olympique Lyonnais : Lloris - Réveillère, B. Koné, Cris (cap), Cissokho - Källström (Grenier, 86’), Gourcuff, Ederson (Bastos, 62’) - Briand (Lisandro, 62’), Gomis, Lacazette.

Manager : Rémi Garde.