After an exciting winter, Stade Rennais confirmed its current bad luck this Sunday by losing on the Strasbourg pitch (2-0), on the occasion of the 27th day of Ligue 1. A Strasbourg success which was drawn at the end of the match thanks to goals from Senaya (71st) and Sebas (73rd). Eliminated in the Europa League by AC Milan, the Bretons have won only one of their five matches against Marseille (3 draws, 2 defeats now). The Alsatians, who are struggling not to look at the bottom of the ranking, are taking a good option to maintain their position, they move up to 12th place with 10 points ahead of the first relegated team, Lorient.
This meeting on the 27th day of Ligue 1 took a while to get going. The two teams did not want to reveal themselves too much in a closed start to the match. But it was the Strasbourgers who showed themselves to be the most dangerous to start with. On certain counterattacks, they managed to create an imbalance in the Rennes block which did not seem to have gotten into the game well. But whether it was Gameiro or Emegha, the Alsatian attackers lacked precision in their controls to get to goal.
After a slump, the Bretons finally pulled themselves together but Bourigeaud and Terrier clearly did not manage to shine as usual. A first period where the supporters remained hungry as the two teams returned to the locker room. During the restart, the Alsatians seemed to show much more desire than their evening opponents. Throwing themselves at each ball and taking full advantage of the slightest opportunities they had, Patrick Vieira’s players put pressure on Steve Mandanda’s goal.
On one action, the former OM goalkeeper had to relax on both occasions, to his left then to his right, to leave his team level in this meeting. But with a listless defense that couldn’t find a way to stop the bleeding, what had to happen happened. With a new cross into the area, Strasbourg’s first strike was deflected by a Rennes defender. Then the entire defense watched the leather roll into the area. But at the far post, Marvin Senaya followed well and gave the Alsatians the advantage (1-0, 70th).
Barely had time to digest this goal and move forward for the Bretons when the second blow fell on their heads. After a corner where they were all behind, the Rennes found themselves struggling on a counter flash. Well served in depth, Jérémy Sebas played Mandanda, dribbled him and pushed the ball into the goal to make the break (2-0, 74th). Stunned, the visitors will never return to this part and will not have even managed to score a single shot in the entire match. A day without for Julien Stéphan’s men who will have to rediscover their winter magic for the end of the season.
