It has been described as a great party with an incredible hangover. The run of Stade Rennais Football Club from the beginning of October to the end of December saw the Breton side go nine games unbeaten in all competitions, before it all started to go wrong for what was the on-form team in France.
During the nine games unbeaten, Rennes creeped up the table after up and down results in their previous matches in Ligue 1. Rennes hovered around 4th and 5th in the table and the belief that the highest league finish they have ever had in their history would be within their grasp. Philippe Montanier and his side looked at December as an early Christmas gift. The general consensus was that the games that were in front of them were definitely manageable, especially on the back of the performances of previous. Fans were flocking to the Route de Lorient in great numbers, providing great vocal support and physical backing to their mostly new heroes.
OGC Nice 1-2 Stade Rennais
Rennes had a 'Nice' time when they had a successful trip to the wealthy French seaside. The visitors made easy going against the mid-table outfit. Paul-Georges Ntep opened the scoring early when he got to the back post to head his team in front; Anders Konradsen got the second for Rennes before conceding a late consolation. Rennes had made it nine unbeaten, something that hadn't been done before in Montanier's tenure at the club. The Bretons were without holding midfielder, Gelson Fernandes, due to suspension- little did they know how important the glue in the midfield would be in future fixtures.
Stade Rennais 0-4 Montpellier SC
A real test of character was required for Rennes next game as they hosted former Ligue 1 champions, Montpellier. Would the team pushing for 3rd go 10 games unbeaten in all competitions, would Montpellier put up a better fight than their southerly neighbours? The answer was a gigantic, and very convincing no- a surprise result if there was ever to be one. Montpellier picked off Rennes at each turn, capitalizing on the lackadaisical defending of their defensive line- thrashing them by four goals to nil. Rennes were bog standard, battered and broken. Without an injured Gelson Fernandes, there was zero protection for the forward thinking midfield and Montpellier took full advantage of it. Near the end, desperate to look the score more respectable at 0-3, a full scale offensive charge with the back four pushed to the halfway line, Montpellier were tactically spot on as they played through Anthony Mounier, who strolled by the defence executing an easy finish one-on-one with Benoit Costil.
SC Bastia 2-0 Stade Rennais
Rennes needed to bounce back, and bounce back big- surely a trip to relegation bound Bastia would be the perfect place to shake off such an embarrassing defeat. Once again with Gelson Fernandes absent through injury, a very attacking Rennes side were taken to task by Bastia in a feisty encounter between the two. An early red card for Fallou Diagne never helped Rennes' cause either, putting them at a major disadvantage. It's arguable whether the defence as a whole were to blame for the first goal, but if there was a culprit then it has to go to Mexer. Attacking midfielder, Ryad Boudebouz made easy work of taking the new Rennes recruit out with a simple touch, finding enough space to hit a long range effort which left Costil helpless in stopping it. The second definitely was a defensive catastrophe. From their goalkeeper clearing the ball from a punch, François Kamano ran from his own half towards the waiting Rennes defence, they all committed to squeezing out the winger unaware that a clear gap had presented itself. A simple pass through to captain, Yannick Cahuzac put him through against Costil and he, like the rest, finished with ease. Real doubt had entered Rennes fans and players alike- those who were cheered during the run were now being blasted for their recent performances- shadows of what they were before.
Stade Rennais 1-0 Creteil
A few days later Rennes were in cup action against Creteil at the Route de Lorient. A defeat to a side whose main focus is to be a force in cup competitions would be disastrous and would have had the swords out. There was zero live TV coverage, and those unable to attend had to keep updated with events going on were faced with French radio or Twitter updates. Fortunately, Rennes came out victors by a narrow margin, with Sylvain Armand towering above the rest to score from a header. Rennes were said to have been more than capable of having a more lengthy lead than the one at the finish, but it should be normal nine times out of ten for the premier league team to defeat the lower league team.
Stade Rennais 1-3 Stade de Reims
That being said, a victory after two shattering defeats could have been the push required for Rennes to go on a similar unbeaten run. Les Rouges et Noirs were at home again and this time it was to be Stade de Reims who would give their opponents a hiding. Reims played like the home side throughout most of the match, notching up possession numbers in the low to mid-60s at points. Reims were given a fright of their own when Mexer was to score the second headed goal in a week for his side, just before the half-time whistle. Reims dusted themselves off a the break, but it took them some time to get the leveller in the second half. A cut-back caught out a ball-looking Rennes defence and Gaetan Charbonnier smashed home from inside the box. The next goal was something dreams are made of. In similar circumstances to Boudebouz's goal for Bastia, substitute, Odaïr Fortes found himself in plenty of space, 30 yards from goal, and produced a dinked, curled effort which went off the side netting. All Costil could do was look the ball nestle at his left side. Once again the Rennes defence was at major fault for the next goal- like against Montpellier, they collectively pushed to high and were punished, this time Nicholas De Preville given the job of finishing up. There seemed to be a split in the fans, the ultras (Roazhon Celtic Kop) looked to be in full support of their side to the bitter end, meanwhile a venomous boo travelled through the stadium as the full time whistle blew.
Future Matches
After the mini winter break Rennes are back in cup action as the go to the French-Belgian border to play another lower league side in, USL Dunkerque. Rennes then go to Evian in the league, then onto another cup match this time away to Bastia- they will hope to put on a better show than the last game between the two. A common quip with the Rennes fans now is that Gelson Fernandes seems to be the saviour who will make everything better on his return, when deep down it's going to take much, much more to get Rennes back on a stable footing.
December Summary:
Goals Scored: 4
Goals Conceded: 10
Wins: 2
Losses: 3
And finally, commiserations to those affected with the horrific incident in Nantes. Thoughts are with you at this present time.