Rennes (AFP)

It was a game without a stake, just for honor, but while at times regaining a little rhythm, Rennes again lost against Sevilla (3-1) on Tuesday for its last day of the Champions League.

Completely dominated in the first leg, Rennes, the last of their group E, started the match rather well against a Sevilla team assured of 2nd place, but as usual for two months, they have not been able to materialize their chances and were too naive in defense.

More dynamic than in their last matches, in particular thanks to the liveliness of young Jérémy Doku, Julien Stéphan's men suffered from the lack of success of Mbaye Niang, tenured at the forefront of the attack for the first time since August.

The Senegalese striker, who has barely returned to the group after his transfer attempts, initially delayed too much on his first opportunity (7th), then shot right next to a center behind Doku (8th), before to see goalkeeper Yassine Bounou deflect a shot that was not supported enough (27th).

At the same time, the Sevillians started to show more and more pressing, and while the Rennes seemed able to resist for a time, they in fact quickly gave in.

First on a cross from Croatian vice-world champion Ivan Rakitic, whom Osama Idrissi controlled and put back to Jules Koundé, who had plenty of time to arm his volley from the left while the Rennes claimed Idrissi's foul (0-1, 32nd).

A quarter of an hour later, the Rennais claimed another fault on Clément Grenier when Oliver Torres was able to calmly address a clear cross cut at the near post by the head of a Youssef En-Nesyri left free in the area (0-2 , 45th + 2).

- Rutter goalscorer -

Haranged by their goalkeeper Romain Salin who shouted his instructions and encouragement throughout the match, the Rennais went on the attack against the Sevillians now folded in defense.

But everything remained far too static, until Georginio Rutter came into play in the 70th minute instead of Niang.

The very young 18-year-old center-forward narrowly missed a shot that went along the post (73rd) and a header (80th), while a shot from Eduardo Camavinga forced Bounou to fold (74th ).

But on the counter that followed this strong time in Rennes, Salin could not do anything against a cross strike from the left of En-Nasyri, launched full axis (0-3, 81st).

The Rennes, however, went on the attack and obtained a penalty for a foul on Camavinga at the entrance to the area, first whistled in a free kick before the Polish referee Bartosz Frankowski changed his mind on intervention by the VAR .

And it was Rutter who was responsible for transforming it with a shot in the top corner (1-3, 86th).

His first professional goal, and the last for Rennes in the Champions League before long if the team, currently 9th, does not recover in the league ...

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