We had left Rennes on a series of 17 straight games without defeat in all competitions. 3rd in Ligue 1 before the break, Bruno Genesio’s men returned to competition with a trip to Reims, against a team that had gained in confidence since Will Still took over in place of Oscar Garcia. The Champenois had managed to move up to 12th place thanks to 7 consecutive games without defeat. It is therefore a confident team with a found Balogun that was preparing to challenge the Bretons.
They quickly understood it since from the first opportunity of the player on loan from Arsenal concretized a cross from Flips with a formidable volley (1-0, 6th). The Rennes defense had already appeared feverish during these first moments, like this failure by Theate (4th) and this save by Mandanda (5th). Picked up cold, the visitors tried to refocus. Gouiri, Kalimuendo, Bourigeaud and Terrier combined but without effectiveness, while conversely, each opposing attack pierced an unrecognizable rearguard.
End of series for Rennes
Flips quickly doubled the bet with a new acrobatic recovery (2-0, 22nd). The success was total but also deserved for the Rémois. Rennes did not demobilize for as much but seemed harmless in front, like a Gouiri in a bad evening (26th, 28th). Just before the break, however, on a center from Bourigeaud extended by burrow, Theate threw himself at the far post to reduce the mark to the limit of offside (2-1, 45th + 1). Just before the break, at the best of times…
Without Gouiri or Truffert but with Doku and Meling, the Bretons still hoped to return. They became disillusioned quickly because on a quick counter, Ito lacked realism when hitting the bar (58th). Despite these changes, the Rennais did not manage to be really dangerous, unlike the locals. They finally crucified their opponents on a final counter concluded by Balogun (3-1, 84th), with the help of the defense and a poor clearance from Mandanda on Omari. Rennes therefore sees its series interrupted at the time of the resumption.
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