Glasgow (AFP)
Celtic Glasgow, without force, won against Rennes on Thursday night (3-1) and will finish first place in Group E of the Europa League, whatever happens in their last match against Cluj in December .
Six months after a European epic concluded in the round of 16 against Arsenal, Rennes will only have his match against Lazio to try to save the honor: one point and three goals scored in five games this fall, it's too much little.
In front of 55,000 spectators including more than 2,500 fans Rennes, but without the 500 ultras of the Scottish "Green Brigade" sanctioned by their club after a series of various and varied incidents, Celtic was deprived of his French scorer, Odsonne Edouard.
Side Rennes, the coach Julien Stephan had chosen to bring some young, including Boey (19 years) and Nyamsi (22 years) in defense, with Bourigeaud as captain but Grenier stayed at the hotel, because ill. The dream only lasted a few minutes until the first Scottish goal.
It was Lewis Morgan who opened the scoring (21st) with a superb recovery from the left flush with Mendy's post, after having been well served by Forrest in a too passive Breton defense: 1-0 for Celtic.
Just before the break, Christie was able to advance and arm his shot without the Rennes defenders intervene. So he adjusted Mendy, from the left (45th + 1): 2-0 for the Scots, in a Celtic Park where supporters Rennes had continued, despite everything, to set the mood.
Throughout this first period, Mendy tried to limit the damage, as on Ntcham shots (18th, 27th) or Morgan's head (42nd). On the Rennes side, there was only shots and a header from Del Castillo (6th, 25th, 29th), but nothing too dangerous for Forster, the Scottish goalkeeper.
In the second half, Rennes still had some chances, but Forster, the giant (2m01) loaned by Southampton, did not let anything pass. Celtic even aggravated the mark when substitute Johnston, as soon as he entered the game, walked in the Breton area and misled Mendy cross shot (74th).
History will remember that Hou, served by Maouassa, saved the honor for the Bretons, a superb cross head (89th). And especially that fans Rennes, not disgusted, ended this game by singing "Champions of the world" in the stands of Celtic Park.
© 2019 AFP