End of the enchanted parenthesis for Athlético Marseille, released by Rennes

And silence returned to Parsemain. The party is over for Athlético Marseille, eliminated from the French Cup by Rennes, this Sunday, in the round of 32 (0-2). After the firecrackers, the smoke bombs, the "Aux Armes", only the regrets remain. "We pay to learn, it is part of the progression of the players," sighs the coach Farid Fouzari, relieved of "not having taken a cap" in front of the new shareholder Cyril Hanouna.

The Marseillais dominated for almost half an hour, but did not manage to deceive an excellent Edouard Mendy. Against the course of the game, and against the freezing wind, the Rennes quickly scored. The very good goalkeeper of the Athletic Paul Cattier could not do anything to face a magnificent recovery of Hamari Traoré in full skylight (0-1, 23rd). Raphinha made the break just before half time (0-2, 45th + 1). The second half, interrupted for a quarter of an hour for smoke and bottle jets, is more forgettable.

"We competed in the game"

But the scenario is frustrating for Marseillais who have been anything but ridiculous. Despite the four divisions, their level seemed close to that of Rennes. “We competed in the game and bothered them with our high pressure. But we lacked precision in both areas, ”pleads Farid Fouzari. The difference between pros and amateurs? "It's their efficiency," replied Marseille goalkeeper Paul Cattier. Their goalkeeper makes big stops on our chances and we cash a "top goal"! "We lacked realism three times, it would have changed the physiognomy of the match," said Marseille President Karim Aklil. Rennes, on the contrary, is two occasions two goals! "

The president of Athletico Marseille announces that Rennes has left the entire #ATMSRFC #CoupedeFrance recipe pic.twitter.com/BfvUggNfIk

Athletic will therefore return to its daily life. Sportingly, everything is going well: the Marseillais are scrapping to go up to National 2 at the end of the season, and, according to Rennes coach Julien Stéphan, “have the level of a National team. It is more complicated in the offices: the club is under threat of a new administrative demotion, which this time could lead it to the district. Will the enchanted parenthesis close?

Rennes "did not doubt"

The work of professionals. Dominated in the first half, the Rennais got out of the trap set by Athlético Marseille, thanks in particular to a magnificent goal by Hamari Traoré.

"This is the strength of the team, we know how to give our backs and score in the moments when we are least expected, at the moment when it hurts the opponents," notes James Léa-Siliki.

Stade Rennais, well helped by an excellent Edouard Mendy, therefore hardly trembled to qualify for the knockout stages of the Coupe de France. "We had fifteen difficult minutes, but we were able to resist," said Rennes coach Julien Stéphan. We did not doubt because we scored at the right time, at the end of their highlight. " Quickly done well done.

• Rennais Stadium
• Marseilles
• Soccer
• French Cup
• Sport