Seven consecutive matches in Ligue 1 without a win, including three defeats in a row, on one side. Twelve encounters in a row (Ligue 1 and Europa League Conference) without defeat, and in particular nine victories, on the other. Six major players absent on the first side, a full workforce the other. Very different collective services, an attack down on one side and on fire on the other, and diametrically opposed statistics in many areas.
Dynamics and diametrically opposed numbers
the Breton derby of the 15th day of Ligue 1 between Lorient and Rennes is announced well unbalanced this Sunday from 3 p.m. on the lawn of the Moustoir stadium. The Merlus are in the hard in several respects and have gradually declined in the standings for two months, the Rennais never cease to amaze and climb in the hierarchy.
We may wonder why play the game
“When we look at all this, we may wonder why play the game“even smiles Christophe Pélissier, the coach of FC Lorient, for whom Stade Rennais is currently a”best team of France, without possible dispute“.
And while everything seems to promise a perilous derby to his players, the technician of the Merlus wants him to see the opportunity not to have nothing to lose and everything to gain. “We are not here as victims either. We were able to be very good against the big teams at the start of the season“he recalls with reference to three successes in three games against Monaco, Lille and then Nice.
An almost silent attack, a vanished realism
The fact remains, at the time, that the FCL was showing a cold and maximum realism, when today the attack hardly scores any more. Moffi, Grbic and Laurienté, recently back from injury, must do better. “Four goals for Armand, two for Terem and one for Adri, that’s not normal. They must do a lot better“. With only 13 goals scored, and less than ten shots on goal per game on average, FCL is also amost sterile attack in Ligue 1… when that of Rennes is the one that strikes the most at the goal of the championship.
If we beat Rennes, it will be a real achievement
By counting on the support of a packed stadium, Christophe Pélissier wants to believe it. “We are going to sell our skin dearly, despite the supposed difference before the match. It’s up to us to reverse that and do the feat. If we beat Rennes, it will be a real feat“.