England is definitely not smiling at Stade Rennais. For their reunion with the Europa League Conference, more than three months later, the Red and Blacks lost on the lawn of Leicester (2-0), Thursday March 10, in the round of 16 first leg of C4. They fell for the first time this season on the continental scene on a goal from Marc Albrighton (30th) and an achievement from Kelechi Iheanacho (93rd) and see their chances of qualification dwindle before the return match next Thursday (6:45 p.m.).
“We should not expect a team that will take this game over the leg”, had warned Bruno Genesio. He was not mistaken despite the absence of Jamie Vardy (injured) and Wesley Fofana (Covid). Dropped in the race for European places (12th) in the Premier League, the English champion has every interest in playing this C4 thoroughly if he wants to return to continental games next season. Unlike Rennes, Leicester were transferred from the Europa League after finishing third in their group before eliminating the Randers in the Europa League Conference play-offs.
The atmosphere of the King Power Stadium was not mistaken and the English supporters understood it well. We felt the stadium ready to capsize at any time, with the fierce desire to ignite but without forgiving anything to its players for each missed technical gesture. All that was missing was the flame to launch this blaze.
She came from Marc Albrighton. Well served by Harvey Barnes, who made Hamari Traoré live a nightmare on his left wing, the Englishman placed under the bar of Alfred Gomis an overpowered strike at the entrance to the surface (1-0, 30th). The stadium then trembled with the expressive happiness of the 27,000 English fans.
The Foxes lair remained festive until the end of the match, taking over the 500 noisy Rennes supporters who had come. Before an even more intense communion when Kelechi Iheanacho cruelly sealed the meeting with a flat left foot lodged near the post of Alfred Gomis (2-0, 90 + 3rd). A goal ball that occurred at the end of a counter following a loss of the ball by Lovro Majer. “It’s even more regrettable to concede this goal in these conditions, making childish mistakes”was annoyed Bruno Génésio in a press conference after the match.
However, Rennes had its moments. The Bretons dominated both on the field and in the stands, where the supporters were well warmed up despite the cold and the wind that blew all day. The men of Bruno Genesio, undefeated coach so far against English teams, played with ambition. Their start to the game was almost perfect. For twenty minutes, true to their principles, they pressed high, monopolized the ball. But their chances were too shy (Laborde 5th and 7th) or not technically well enough (Bourigeaud, 20th).
“I think we did a lot of good things in this match, in technical mastery, unfortunately in football you have to be efficient”, lamented Bruno Génésio. Except that not to be more sharp, the SRFC was punished by a brilliant action. The defense, like its captain Hamari Traoré, was too feverish, especially on long balls. The Rouge et Noir then lost their footing, particularly jostled in the midfield, where Baptiste Santamaria and Jonas Martin were in difficulty.
Even if he lost the ball 2-0, the entry of Lovro Majer (64th) was still good, allowing his team to regain possession of the ball. The success was not more there for Martin Terrier (74th), Flavien Tait (79th) and especially Nayef Aguerd, who had two huge opportunities to extend a set piece in the back of the net (53rd, 68th ). The first being repelled by hand, which could (should?) have been worth a penalty. Unfortunately, VAR does not exist in the Europa League Conference.
It will be necessary to produce something else in a week at Roazhon Park to hope to glimpse the quarter-finals of a continental competition for the first time in its history. After Aston Villa in 2001 (1-0), Arsenal in 2019 (3-0) and Chelsea in 2020 (3-0), Stade Rennais suffered a fourth defeat in as many games on English soil.