With a desperate defense, Rennes stopped in its tracks

At Roazhon Park,

Walking on water for more than two months with a series of seven games without defeat (six wins and a draw), Stade Rennais suffered a setback on Friday evening. Facing AS Monaco, a direct competitor for a European place, Bruno Genesio’s men were punished at home (2-3). The fault of course with a defense which took on water in the absence of its boss Nayef Aguerd, sick. To replace him, Bruno Genesio, still deprived of Loïc Badé, had chosen to take Baptiste Santamaria down a notch. In a position that is not his, the midfielder did not convince. On the second Monegasque goal signed Ben Yedder a little before the hour mark, his poor reading of the game thus cost dearly.

But Santamaria is not the only one to have made “gross mistakes”, as the Rennes coach admitted after the match. Revelation of the season, the young Warmed Omari is indeed in trouble at the moment. And that was seen on Friday evening, the young central defender delivering a catastrophic part with in particular a bad recovery in the axis which led to the third Monegasque goal. “He is a young player who must learn from this match for the future, underlined Bruno Genesio. This should help him get back on his feet”.

“Disappointed but not dejected,” says Bruno Genesio

On the street in defense, Stade Rennais did not shine offensively for once either. The Rouge et Noir had however started with a bang with the opener signed Flavien Tait with a header from the start of the meeting (3rd). But the Monegasques quickly picked up through Vanderson (12th) before being very solid in defense and surgical in front thanks to the tireless Ben Yedder (57th) and the young Boadu (77th). The reduction of the penalty score by Martin Terrier at the very end of the match will not change anything.

Slowed down in its tracks, Stade Rennais, guaranteed to keep their 3rd place at the end of the 32nd day, however lost a great opportunity to clear their pursuers in the standings. Above all, the Breton club sees its evening opponent coming back on its heels with only a three-point gap now. But not enough to panic Bruno Genesio. “We are disappointed but not defeated,” he said. This does not call into question the objectives we have set for the end of the season”.

Wednesday is another big shock against a candidate for Europe who is waiting for Rennes with a trip to Strasbourg. We will then know if the defeat against Monaco was just an accident and if Stade Rennais can really dream of the Champions League.


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