Les Rouge et Noir hopes for a victory against Valenciennes ended in a unsatisfying nil draw as both sides ended up playing with ten men. The match commenced with Rennais looking focused and came close to finding the net at the eight minute as Jérôme Leroy' corner is redirected by Mickaël Pagis towards the net. While falling short of scoring, slowly les Bretons are imposing their will and gradually picking apart Valenciennes. However any plans that Guy Lacombe had for the match took an abrupt turn as Kader Mangane is expelled at the twenty-fourth minute for a bone chilling tackle on Jonathan Lacourt, that caused a broken leg. Due to this, Elderson Echiéjilé is brought in with Mickaël Pagis' day ending and the formation is juggled to shoot the disadvantage. Despite being a man down the next realistic scoring chance comes ten minutes before the break by Rennais as Nicolas Douchez launches a counter with Olivier Thomert heading the ball on to Jimmy Briand but the strikers effort is saved by Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau. Tension is running thick in the match with Rennais complaining to the referee, Monsieur Falcone on a number of alleged missed calls. After the restart the crispness of the tackles continue and just before the hour Carlos Sánchez is red-carded for a poor challenge of Stéphane Mbia. With the man advantage removed, Rennais looked for the much needed goal and a few minutes past the hour Olivier Thomert could not capitalize on being free in on Penneteau after receiving Jérôme Leroy well weighted provision. Throughout the final twenty minutes les Rouge et Noir control possession of the ball but the visitors are unrelenting and the match ends without a score.Photo Source / Auteur: Stade Rennais F.C.
