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Rennes, a serious customer in the form of a black beast for Paris

2020-11-07T00:26:35.787Z


Largely reduced this Saturday, PSG has everything to fear from a Rennes team which is not always successful.


“I have very good memories against Paris,” smiles James Lea-Siliki.

And for good reason, Stade Rennais is one of the most successful teams against the Parisian ogre in national games.

The proof is in the numbers.

The Breton club has inflicted on PSG three of its nine defeats at the Parc des Princes in Ligue 1 since the takeover of the Qataris in 2011. Moreover, it is the only team to have won in Paris on several occasions over this period.

Going back a little further, we can see that Paris lost 13 times against Rennes in Ligue 1 in the 21st century, and this is more than against any other elite team tied with the OL.

Last but not least, Stade Rennais disposed of PSG in the final of the Coupe de France last year.

“You also have to be careful because they beat us very often,” recalls Lea-Siliki.

We know we can do it.

We also know that if we let go and we are not rigorous, things can go quickly.

It's up to us to make the perfect match to get points. ”

Same story with Julien Stéphan, who ensures that it will be necessary to achieve a "feat" to achieve a result at the Park this Saturday (9pm).

Ambition and confidence for Rennes

Moreover, the Ile-de-France Lea-Siliki (he was born in Sarcelles) guesses that the Parisians now “always have this vengeful spirit” against Rennes, relying on his exchanges with Presnel Kimpembe to affirm it.

“They are preparing this match differently,” he explains again.

“In any case, we're going there with a lot of ambition,” he continues.

Ambition and confidence, despite a 3-0 trompe l'oeil defeat on Chelsea midweek and a lack of lively dynamics.

Coach Stéphan indeed retains “the selflessness, the bravery, the courage, but also the quality” of his players at Stambord Bridge, with refereeing decisions that “killed the match”.

"It's anti-football," he swears about the second yellow attributed to the unfortunate Dalbert.

Moreover, this feeling of injustice could serve them this Saturday, during the tenth day of Ligue 1.

"

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There are two other figures that can give Rennais confidence before this trip to Paris: if the French champions are first in the ranking of the best attacks (23 goals) and that of the highest average ball possession in the League. 1 (64.4%), Rennes is in second place in these two statistical categories (18 goals and 61.1%).

Moreover, Paris and Rennes are the two teams which have posted the greatest number of different scorers in Ligue 1 since the start of the season (11 and 10): the danger comes from everywhere. 

"We are able to take the ball, to control it"

Julien Stephan

In short, this Rennes team, third in the championship standings three lengths behind the Parisian leader, arrives in the capital with ambitions in terms of the game. “When you play these teams, the mistake not to make is too much. to focus on them, Stéphan swears.

At Chelsea, we wanted to think of us first, from the start of the game, to show that we are capable of doing good things.

In Paris, we will want to do the same. "

And to add: “It will be necessary to show determination, character, personality.

We must also be able to express our qualities, fight on our strengths.

We are able to take the ball, to control it.

Will we be able to do it more than Paris?

I do not know.

In any case, we will have to reduce their percentage of possession in the match compared to what they are used to doing, that's for sure.

And it will also be necessary to be able to create opportunities and endanger them. ”

This does not sound like the speech of a team destined to suffer.

And this despite an absence of weight in the midfield, that of the young (18 years) international prodigy Eduardo Camavinga.  

Except that in terms of absences, Parisians have plenty to do too.

Tuchel will have to do without Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

"It will be a team from Paris which will play differently, but it remains a strong team," promises Stéphan, logically wary.

PSG will also have to do without Presnel Kimpembe, Keylor Navas and "probably" Pablo Sarabia.

All this while knowing that Marco Verratti, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler and Juan Bernat are also missing… ordinary Paris?

“I'm not sure that Paris and ordinary sound good together,” smiles Julien Stéphan.  

Tuchel threatened in case of defeat?

Thomas Tuchel, for his part, readily recognizes Rennes' merits: “They have good unity between the team and the coach.

They deserved to play in the Champions League, it's a great thing for this club, and they also won the Cup (of France in 2019), unfortunately against us.

That means it's a constant progression, a very strong, very solid, very courageous team.

I'm sure they can feel the challenge of playing every three days at this level, like us, but I'm expecting a courageous, aggressive team who will play totally united. "

About the sequence of matches, no excuse for Julien Stéphan.

"Football, top-level sport, to do it every three days, of course it's hard," notes the son of Didier Deschamps' deputy, Guy Stéphan.

But above all it is a chance.

I see this as a real opportunity offered to us.

In the current context, moreover, with people who are forced to stay at home, who cannot work, we work, we have this pleasure, this chance.

Let's enjoy it.

Above all, no complaints. ”

We'll talk about that after the game.

"

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Still, Tuchel, although wary in view of the quality of the opponent and the glitches of his team, does not leave defeated in advance.

Especially since his place could be threatened in the event of failure… “It will be a great challenge for us, but also a great opportunity to increase the gap between the two teams (in the standings).

But we will need another collective effort, especially on the physical level, and a good performance. ”

Easier said than done at the moment for PSG.

Although, the first half in Leipzig was encouraging.

Charge Angel Di Maria and company to do it over 90 minutes.

Otherwise, Stade Rennais has already shown that it has the recipe to shake this PSG ...

Read also

  • League 1 standings

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2020-11-07

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