A complicated end of the year 2021 for Stade Rennais. The defeat against AS Monaco (2-1) this Wednesday, December 22, is the third in four Ligue 1 games. Again against a potential opponent for European places at the end of the season.
The Rouge et Noir may have regrets as the game at the Louis II stadium was hotly contested. But Stade Rennais is not never managed to impose his domination, as they could still do a few weeks before. As a result, Rennes comes down from the podium and finds itself fourth.
Realistic Monaco
The meeting had started very well with a goal from Martin Terrier (16th), the result of a superb collective action. It all started with a long cross from Warmed Omari for Adrien Truffert. He serves Martin Terrier in a small space at the heart of the game which, after a one-two with Gaëtan Laborde, only has to push her to the bottom.
The effort will be wasted by a hand in the slightly stupid area of Hamari Traoré (35th). The penalty is easily transformed by Wissam Ben Yedder. The second half will be very balanced, but ultimately turns to the advantage of AS Monaco. A missed volley from the former Rennais Sofiane Diop turns into an assist for Kévin Volland. Positioned in the middle of the central Badé-Omari hinge, he headed Alfred Gomis (72nd). Rennes will also be a bit unlucky, as on the crossbar found by Baptiste Santamaria (75th).
A missed opportunity to make a difference in the standings
This defeat is all the more regrettable as it is once again against a club candidate for European places. After Nice (1-2) and Lille (1-2), it is on the same score that Rennes misses in Monaco. At the same time Nice won against Lens and returned to the front, ejecting Stade Rennais from the podium. Marseille, with a late match, had to settle for a draw in Reims. And finally Montpellier comes back up to the Rouge et Noir after their great success.
Despite a generally satisfactory first half of the season, the end of the year is a bit spoiled by this chain of defeats. The collective power demonstrated by Stade Rennais in previous weeks is less obvious. The year ends with a very tight ranking. RC Lens, the Rouge et Noir’s next opponent after the break, is ninth but only four points behind.