Rennes (AFP)
Stade Rennais ended their European season by winning a prestigious victory over Lazio Rome (2-0), who in turn was eliminated from the Europa League on Thursday night at Roazhon Park, thanks to a brace from central defender Joris Gnagnon .
As at the same time the Romanians of Cluj assured their qualification by beating Celtic, the Romans, who had to win to hope for a qualification, will not have too many regrets. They did not seem very concerned either, a few days after having inflicted on Juventus their first defeat of the season in Italy.
With Salin in goal, Boey, Nyamsi, Gnagnon and Doumbia behind, Grenier back in the middle, da Cunha and Gboho ahead, Julien Stephan had decided to line up a little experimental team and the game was rather pleasant.
Some nice shots were used in the mouth for the first goal of Gnagnon: in pivot and back to the goal in the area, the player trained in Rennes and loaned by Sevilla FC converted a remission of the head of Boey (30th).
The second period was less amusing, the Romans still being little concerned, multiplying the faults, the simulations, the approximations, and leaving young Rennes, delighted with the windfall, to put their trust in a well-filled Roazhon Park.
A nice shot from Boey (66th), just above, would have deserved a better spell. Then Ciro Immobile, the top scorer in Serie A, came back to the locker room to rest, as a symbol of Lazio's lack of interest in this match, and even for this Europa League.
As Christmas is coming soon, a little gift has come to close this party night. And the improbable Gnagnon came at the right time to reoffend by taking a close shot of Tait repelled by Proto (87). What extend the momentum that has replaced the Breton club in 4th place in Ligue 1.
© 2019 AFP