After a series of four defeats in five matches, Rennes began to believe in European qualification again by overthrowing Metz (3-2) at the last minute on Saturday during the 32nd day of Ligue 1. Two days from the end in the championship, Rennes (45 points) is four points behind Lens (sixth), the leading European team, which it will face on the next day.
Metz (29 points), still in sixteenth place, synonymous with a play-off, is three points ahead of Lorient (17th) and four ahead of Clermont (18th) but three behind Nantes (15th) and Le Havre (14th), first no -relegated. Under pouring rain at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, the Rennes continued their painful quest for Europe at the end of a very tense match, punctuated by several contentious refereeing decisions.
However, everything started badly for the Bretons, who, because of two errors of judgment, offered so many gifts to Messins in the first period. It was first the experienced Steve Mandanda (39 years old) who came out at the wrong time in front of Georges Mikautadze before changing his mind, then seeing the damage: the Georgian had just deceived him with a nice shot, scoring his seventh goal in five games (17th). Then central defender Arthur Théate made a similar mistake, misjudging the trajectory of the ball that Mikautadze recovered before ideally serving Papa Diallo for the second Metz goal (45th).
In the meantime, Amine Gouiri had equalized, helped by the unfortunate deviation of Christophe Hérelle (23rd). Julien Stéphan’s players would even have had a two-goal disadvantage without a crucial save from Théate on his line to remove a shot from Diallo (69th).
This was undoubtedly the turning point of the match. In the process, the game descended into tension due to questionable refereeing decisions. Ruddy Buquet first awarded a penalty to the Bretons for a slight foul by Ismaël Traoré on Arnaud Kalimuendo. Benjamin Bourigeaud transformed it with great mastery (71st). But the referee did not flinch when Messin Fali Candé blocked a free kick from Bourigeaud with his arm in his own area (80th).
The Bretons ultimately didn’t need it, delivering the final blow through Arnaud Kalimuendo following a counterattack. Cruel scenario for Metz, who delivered a score full of courage and will, before finally being punished. The bill even increased when Mikautadze, by far Lorraine’s best player, was sent off for pushing Kalimuendo (90th 5). This harsh decision risks having serious consequences for Metz, which will have to fight to remain without “King George”.