Rennes (AFP)

Stade Rennais made a warm return to the Europa League on Thursday, six months after a round of 16 loss to Arsenal, drawing with another British team, Celtic Glasgow (1-1), in their first Group E match .

It was the home scorer, Mbaye Niang, who opened the scoring on penalty (37th), after being mowed in the box by Kristoffer Ajer. The Spanish referee, José Maria Sanchez, did not hesitate and the Senegalese international calmly deceived Fraser Forster, the goalkeeper of Celtic.

This advantage at the break was deserved, against strong Scots but without great genius, with the exception of their young French striker, Odsonne Edouard. The Bleuet trained at Paris SG could have opened the scoring on a volley (11th) or have Mohamed Elyounoussi score on a tight center (20th).

Marked by the very powerful Joris Gnagnon, holder for the first time since his return to the club that formed him, Edward then left the limelight on the other side of the lawn of Roazhon Park in Raphinha, the Brazilian winger author of pretty numbers on the right (13th, 44th) and a dangerous shot (31st).

- Back to square one -

Since the restart, Celtic has moved up a gear, playing higher and looking for the Britons foul. The defense Rennes, four instead of five since the beginning of the season, remained vigilant, even launching some cons in the open spaces by the Scots.

But shortly before the hour of the game, the referee designated the penalty for a foul, not obvious for the Breton public, the Rennes captain Damien Da Silva on James Forrest. Ryan Christie converted and tied without a shot (59th).

Back to the starting grid then, and nice free kick Clément Grenier, left for the skylight (63) but beautifully diverted by Forster ... out of goal, according to the referee. And against Celtic concluded by a brushed shot of Forrest (66th), just above.

Julien Stephan then returned his mascot, midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (16), and striker Romain Del Castillo. This coaching gave a small boost to his troops, again threatening, twice in a row (75th, 76th), in front of the cage Forster at the beginning of the last quarter of an hour.

A tackle leaning a bit on Hamari Traoré (81) triggered the anger of Roazhon Park then the game, more and more chopped by the whistles of Mr. Sanchez, dropped intensity, leaving the audience speechless.

Up to a foot of Vakoun Issouf Bayo on the face of Edouard Mendy, Rennes goalkeeper, synonymous with expulsion for the Celtic player already warned shortly before.

A last Scottish raid (90th + 2) did not change the case, nor the next corner. It was a European Cup match, muscular, intense, riddled with fouls and ultimately frustrating for both teams.

© 2019 AFP