C4: despite their victory against Leicester, Rennes eliminated

The goal conceded in the 93rd minute in the first leg will have weighed heavily.

Despite a proper siege of the English cages, in a tense final where the Rennais claimed in vain for a penalty, the Bretons did not manage to overcome the handicap of the 2-0 conceded last week on the ground of the 12th of the Premier League.

If Rennes sold their skin dearly, it is a disappointment for the Rouge et Noir club which had ambitions in this new European competition.

Coach Bruno Genesio had warned: the start was going to be crucial.

And unlike the first leg, Rennes did not miss their first quarter of an hour, deploying a lot of energy and vivacity but also, this time, success.

After a low cross from Martin Terrier, Benjamin Bourigeaud managed to push the ball into the net (1-0, 8th).

The stadium was so exulted that a barrier in the Ultras stand gave way behind the goal, causing two minor injuries according to the Rennes club to AFP.

Having made up for part of their delay, the Rennais made the English defense dizzy, before stalling by circulating the ball a lot without managing to create particularly sharp chances.

At the start of the second half, it was the English who, after a few unsuccessful incursions in the first half, put the pressure on.

And despite effective resistance from Dogan Alemdar, the 19-year-old Rennes goalkeeper who started after Alfred Gomis' injury, Leicester found the fault.

On a corner, the French international Espoirs Wesley Fofana, who returned to competition 7 months after a broken tibia, jumped higher than everyone to equalize with a crossed header (1-1, 50th).

The Rennes defense concedes a goal from a corner by Wesley Fofana for Leicester City at Roazhon Park, March 17, 2022 DAMIEN MEYER AFP

Stunned, the Rennais struggled to get back on track, until Flavien Tait, served by Serhou Guirassy after impressive work from Adrien Truffert, revived the suspense with a fine cross shot at ground level (2 -1, 76th).

Roazhon Park and its 27,000 spectators then regained their voice: a single additional goal could open the door to extra time.

But despite their efforts, the Rennais came up against determined Englishmen, like goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who pulled off a huge save against Guirassy (85th).

In a tense climate, the Rennais claimed a penalty for a hand from a defender on the very last free kick, but the Greek referee Anastasios Sidiropoulos, who did not benefit from the support of the VAR at this stage of the competition , whistled the end of the match in some confusion.

© 2022 AFP