Although reduced to ten during a good part of the Europa League match which pitted it against Panalthinaikos on Thursday, Stade Rennais won, thanks in particular to the winning coaching of Bruno Génésio (3-1).
Author of a contrasting start to the season, Stade Rennais knew that it would have to work to get rid of Panathinaikos who came to visit it this Thursday, as part of a meeting counting for the fourth day of the Europa League. And the scenario turned out to be as dangerous as expected for the Bretons who had to draw on their resources, literally and figuratively, to get by and finally won against the Greek club (3-1). A result which allows them to retain the lead of group F.
The start of the match was in favor of the locals, with Fabian Rieder opening the score quickly (1-0, 9th). But the red brought out by the referee against Jeanuel Belocian, author of a shirt pulling confirmed by the VAR, shook the confidence of the Rennais (33rd). Because this error caused a penalty converted by Fotis Ioannidis (1-1, 34th). The Bretons, however, managed to return to the locker room with this draw.
Winning entries
And for Bruno Génésio, the opportunity to motivate his troops. The Rennes coach, accused following his team’s recent disappointing results, returned to the forefront at the hour mark, the time chosen to make three substitutions. A really winning coaching since less than ten minutes after their entry into play, Ibrahim Salah (2-1, 65th) and Ludovic Blas (3-1, 70th), scored to widen a definitive gap.
Thanks to this success, Stade Rennais is well at the top of Group F, with three points ahead of Villarreal who won at the same time on the pitch of Maccabi Haifa (1-2). The Spanish club, however, has one game less than Rennes, which will return to the Europa League on November 30, with a trip to Haifa.
