Returning from the play following the international break, Stade Rennais defeated slumping Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 at Stade de Gerland in match-day fourteen of Ligue 1. With the result Les Rouges et Noirs pull level with Lille Métropole at the third spot of the table, five points off Paris Saint-Germain who face Nancy on Sunday.

After a tight start with few notable chances, Lyon narrowly missed taking the lead three minutes shy of the quarter-hour when the highly promising Alexandre Lacazette rifled a booming effort off-course. Quick on the response, Rennes posted their own effort with Víctor Montaño nodding the ball off the woodwork before the hosts began to assert their authority. Via a partially cleared corner on the left, Kim Källström latched onto the errant ball outside the area before seeing his low effort re-directed into the net by Ederson from eleven meters to give Lyon the one goal advantage six minutes past the half-hour. The hosts lead was short lived as three minutes later Julien Féret played the ball into Jonathan Pitroipa who after fighting off Bakary Koné slotted in past ‘keeper Hugo Lloris from near the spot.

The Bretagne side wasted little time taking the lead as eight minutes after the re-start Yann M’Vila latched onto an errant ball deep in the Lyon. Pouncing on the opportunity he spotted Jirès Kembo Ekoko clear on the left side of the area, promptly providing the ball to the striker who then side-footed the winning margin to the bottom opposite corner of the net. Lyon manager Rémi Garde quickly summoned Michel Bastos and Lisandro López for Ederson and the mercurial Jimmy Briand but chances were sparing for the hosts. Through the balance of time Stade Rennais comfortably killed off any advances and sailed to the 2-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
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Olympique de Marseille’s horror start to the Ligue 1 campaign continued as they were defeated 1-0 by Rennais at the Stade Vélodrome. With the result, l’OM are without a win in the opening five weeks, a single point above the relegation zone and eight points removed from top of the table Lyon.

To the delight of the Marseillais, l’OM started briskly with a Loïc Rémy early volley of Benoît Cheyrou’s free-kick block. At the quarter-hour the young attacker was in prime position to break the deadlock but Rouges et Noirs ‘keeper Benoît Costil made a stunning stop, the first of many in the evening. l’OM injury woes continued as midway of the half manager Didier Deschamps was forced to call upon Morgan Amalfitano for Mathieu Valbuena, to which the loss of the cagey French international was notable. While l’OM looked to be the better of the two, the final piece to the puzzle was missing and the contest went the break scoreless.

After the re-start, l’OM came out with a fire but the story of the night Benoît Costil has made a brilliant stop of Loïc Rémy before a spellbinding denial of Alou Diarra’s goal bound header. At the fifty-sixth minute M. Deschamps summoned André-Pierre Gignac for Jordan Ayew with the Marseillais receiving him well and giving him full opportunity to make due on his promise to win his position. The former Toulouse striker quickly emerged in virtually every attacking advance, though he clearly was not up to his top form with a series of misses including a high probability chance from point blank range that he simply side footed the ball too softly. l’OM was dominating in the attack, yet as is so often the case squandered chances loomed large as at the seventh-six minute Jirès Kembo Ekoko latched onto a poorly cleared ball on the left and firing a low effort from distance to the near post past l’OM ‘keeper Steve Mandanda for the advantage. Down by one Marseille searched for the equalized but Benoît Costil was infallible and Stade Rennais claimed the 1-0 victory.
Prepared by John Davies

©Europa League News, 2011
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In a reaffirming display, Stade Rennais advanced to the next stage of the Europa League with a 2-0 defeat of visiting Metalurgi Rustavi in the second leg of their tie to claim a 7-2 aggregate.

After claiming the opening leg 5-0 there was little doubt that “les Rouge et Noir”, despite manager Frédéric Antonetti made the required warning to his troops before the contest. With only one change to the most recent line-up, Alexander Tettey entering for Tongo Doumbia, Rennais imposed dictated on the run of play early with the visitors forced into a defensive shell and clearly not up to the standards of the Brittany based side. After Yacine Brahimi was forced out early due to injury, Abdoul Camara sent a menacing drive from twenty-five metres just off course as the contest went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start, Rennais began to carve out openings with twenty-one year-old French international Yann M’Vila shining brightly but still the opening goal stayed beyond reach. With seventeen minutes remaining in regulation time Frédéric Antonetti ushered Victor Montaño in for Razak Boukari and moments later he broke the deadlock to the delight of the home supporters. As icing on the evening celebration, Julian Féret doubled the margin at the eighty-fifth minute via Stéphane Dalmat’s provision as Stade Rennais claimed the 2-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved