A new year full of good intentions

- Second return for Costil:
Born in Caen, Costil made Saturday his first return with Rennes, in the stadium where he started his professional career. But it was not his first return at Michel-d’Ornano, since he already played against Caen under the shirt of Sedan. It was in Ligue 2, during the 2009-2010 season. Before the match, Costil declared to sport24.com that he didn’t have any particular feelings before this game: « Today, time has passed. I only hope that it will end in a more favourable way than with Sedan, since we lost 3-1 and it hurled us on the red zone ». As a matter of fact, his wish has been granted.

- Boukari returns to the starting eleven:
Razak Boukari started the matches against Nancy and Caen. The left winger Togolese didn’t start a Ligue 1 match since Marseille - Rennes the 10th September. A return who ended quickly than expected, because of an thigh injury. He « strained his muscle » according to Antonetti, he suffers with a « pulled muscle » according to the club’s announcement. Whatever his injury is, he should be unavailable during several weeks.

- Historic victory:
On Saturday, Stade Rennes obtained its first victory in Caen in Ligue 1. It was also the first time that the club won at the Stade d’Ornano, inaugurated in 1994. The Rennais didn’t win in Caen since 30 years; it was on 16th May 1981 in Division 2 (6-2 victory), and Caen played at the Stade de Venoix, next to the current stadium. This season, Stade Rennes continues to break its bad runs on stadium where they usually fail, such as in Marseille and in Sochaux.

- Caen in turmoil:
The Stade Malherbe de Caen remains on five defeats in a row at home, all competitions included and continues to drop in the Ligue 1 ranking. The Caennais had many absences Saturday, all replaced by young players, inexperienced in Ligue 1 (Wague, Mboné, Fajr, Nabab).
Only few elements achieved a good game, according to their coach Franck Dumas after the game: « We had a bad period, even if we started the match well. We took a goal on a defensive phase, when we moved back. The second goal is strangely similar. I am waiting for Niang’s return next week and then Frau’s one. [...] I made few changes, it was all right on impacts. Many things are against us. We lack solutions. It’s a difficult situation, but it was expected since the beginning. When we were ranked at the 10th position, I already raised the alarm. Regarding the transfer window, we are working on it. With our means, we can’t do anything. »

- Kembo in top form:
Once again on the score-sheet, Jirès Kembo has just reached the ten goals milestone this season, all competitions included. It was his eighth goal in Ligue 1, which ranks him as fourth scorer of the competition, behind Olivier Giroud (14 goals), Kévin Gameiro and Nenê (9 goals). It has to be noticed that Kembo scored the first goal in all three last games of Rennes.

- The defensive solidity is back:
Less efficient this season - Stade Rennes is only the eighth defence of Ligue 1 – Rennes’ defence didn’t take any goal on the last three games (the last one was scored by Fousseni Diawara, in Ajaccio). This is the first time it happens this season, which allows to hope a successful period for Rennes, despite the departures to AfCON.

- Pajot also injured:
Substituted at the beginning of the second half because of an ankle injury (following a first kock in the first half), Vincent Pajot asserted this Sunday on Twitter that his ankle became « blue ». His injury would be a sprain, according to the club’s announcement.
With Boukari, Stade Rennes has therefore two injured players after this match. It shouldn’t be too serious for Pajot, since the team contains several midfielders (Doumbia, Tettey, Mandjeck...), but it should be more of an issue for Boukari, since Pitroipa and Hadji have left to the AfCON.

- Montaño unlocks his counter:
Author of the second goal, Victor Hugo Montaño scored his ninth goal of the season, all competitions included (it was his fifth in L1). It was above all his first goal since the 29th September (Rennes - Madrid), in other words since over three months! An eternity for a striker. After his goal, a mix of relief and delight could be read on his face.

- The away victories are back:
After a thundering start on the road, the Rennais remained on three defeats away on a row (in Nice, Madrid and Ajaccio). This run ended in Normandy, since the Red and Black obtained their sixth victory away in Ligue 1 this season, after Dijon, Marseille, Sochaux, Auxerre and Lyon. Moreover, they never drew away; Stade Rennes is now the only team of Ligue 1 on this case.

- Antonetti tempers:
After the game, Frédéric Antonetti appeared satisfied with the performance of his players, without denying that few imperfections would have to be addressed: « We confirmed our good dispositions of the moment. We were quite hesitant at the beginning of the match. After the goal, we deserved our victory, since we controlled the game between the 20’ and the 75’. There are many invisible things that are quite interesting, we prevented the opponent to play. Montaño makes major progress, he was not successful over the last few weeks, I’m happy for him. Boukari has a strained muscle, Pajot a sprained ankle. We have to hang on to the leading wagon and I hope we will not have any bad period, such as last year. »

- Rennes remains in contact:
After this twentieth game week, Stade Rennes remains in fifth position and has now the same number of points than Lyon who lost against Montpellier. Except Lille, who lost against Marseille, all the other leading teams won their matches. Therefore, the Rennais only outdistance Toulouse and the other teams ranked below. It is not a huge operation, but Rennes remains in contact with European places. The next game week of Ligue 1, against Marseille, could be a turning point, like last year, but hopefully with a better outcome.

- Declarations sources: ouest-france.fr