Stade Rennais receives Dynamo Kiev tonight at Roazhon Park. A decisive encounter in the race for qualification in the last sixteen of the Europa League. The opportunity also for the Bretons to face a real reference at the European level.
It's the return of European gala nights at Roazhon Park. Dynamo Kiev is coming to Brittany with an unprecedented track record at Stade Rennais, including two European Cups and fifteen Ukrainian championships.
The Red and Black had not met such an opponent since the Atlético de Madrid and Celtic Glasgow seven years ago and we must measure the world of difference that exists between the two institutions: Kiev competes each year competitions for more than forty years.
"They necessarily leave with an advantage over us, since their team, their club, their players have more experience on the European scene, admits Sabri Lamouchi, the technician from Rennes. Without going very far, it's a club that has a great history, still playing the Champions League last year. That's the difference with us. "
"We do not make too much difference between the teams, assures Benjamin André, the captain . We know where we want to go and what to do to try to go further in this competition. "
The reception of the seeded group K will allow the Stade Rennais to beat his record attendance in the Europa League (24,299 against Atlético de Madrid). A new highlight for the Rouge et Noir, one month after winning their first group stage success in a European competition.
"One of the two teams will come out of the group"
The symbolic surrounding all the SRFC releases in this Europa League created a dynamic, enthusiasm that spreads. The success against Jablonec (2-1) perfectly launched the adventure, and it is not the defeat in the distant lands of Kazakhstan, in Astana (2-0), who stopped this frenzy. An entire city believes in the qualification of its team for the round of 32 and in this sense, this double confrontation against Dynamo is a turning point.
Attached by Astana on their turf (2-2), then Jablonec (2-2), each time in the last moments of the match, the Ukrainians are in the wait and frustration of a first success and if the Stadium Rennais managed to slow down their heat tonight, he could take an important option for the qualification. "This double confrontation (return to Kiev November 8) will be important and one of two teams, perhaps both, but one sure, will leave the group, warns Lamouchi. It's up to us to manage this first match. "
Even if they are two different competitions, the last two performances of Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 in Monaco (1-2) and Saint-Etienne (1-1) encourage optimism. Hatem Ben Arfa, who is "ready to go on" Lamouchi assured, showed signs of a return to form and with him the whole team has a much more conquering face than three weeks ago.
"These are matches where small details are more important, where the intensity is different," said the Rennes coach. Against Jablonec, we had the hardest and it was very difficult to win. Against a great European, the level will rise again. It's time to sublimate.