King of Europe, Génésio behind Blanc, clean sheets: Rennes and its figures far from “anecdotal”

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Since its defeat against Marseille (2-0) – the third in a row at the time in the league – Stade Rennais has never ceased to impress. Thus, the Breton club remains on nine matches without defeat, marked by seven wins and two draws. A bluffing dynamic. It’s simple since the beginning of October, nobody does better in Europe in the big championships. Even PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid have taken fewer points in their domestic competition over this period than the Bretons.

Martin, the X factor of clean sheets

In the league, Rennes remains on two matches in a row ended with 2-0 victories (note: against Lorient and Montpellier). Above all, without taking the slightest goal. And this is perhaps the real difference with its failed start to the season (note: five points after six matches): Stade Rennais has found defensive stability. An evolution linked in particular to the collective involvement of a whole group wishing to make the efforts together to recover the ball as quickly as possible.

However, the presence of Jonas Martin at the heart of the game also helped stabilize the Breton block. Too regularly injured since his arrival in Ille-et-Vilaine in 2019 to really show his qualities, the former Strasbourg resident has established himself as a valuable X factor. It’s simple: when he was aligned from the kick-off this season, the Breton club signed six clean sheets in seven matches. And took only one goal (note: 1-1 against Bordeaux). Everything but a coincidence.

57% success: Génésio, a benchmark in France

To say that he was not unanimous on the Lyon bench is a no-brainer. Some Lyonnais had even taken a grip on him until pushing him towards the exit. In Brittany, the story is currently very different. Bruno Génésio seduces as much by his communication as by the game proposed by his team and his results. But to sum up his success at Stade Rennais, where he only arrived last March to succeed Julien Stephan, would be reductive.

Despite the disenchantment of part of the Lyon public, the technician had already demonstrated his ability to bring results to the Gones. So much so that he has 57% success as a coach in Ligue 1 (91 successes in 159 games with Lyon and Rennes)! Which makes him the coach with the best ratio for a coach who has led at least 100 matches in the history of the French championship behind Laurent Blanc (64%). Just that.

Laborde, a goalscorer worthy of the greatest

It’s a goal machine. Gaëtan Laborde has not experienced a period of adaptation. Since his arrival in Brittany, the center forward has kept the momentum of his last months with Montpellier. Already the author of three achievements in four league matches with the Hérault club this season, here he is with six goals in 11 L1 outings with Stade Rennais.

And again, we must not forget his performances in the Europa League Conference where he turned into an exceptional fireworks (5 goals in 5 games). A real asset to finish the actions of the Red and Black. And that changes a lot of things, especially as the striker with 14 goals in 20 matches this season in all competitions has also become a leader in the Breton group both in the field and in the locker room.

Gomis, a guardian who reassures more

He did not always convince the Rennes supporters. At his beginnings, many of them were not even necessarily reassured to see him in the Breton goal. The succession of the excellent Edouard Mendy even if he made only one passage in Rennes was not easy to assume. But if his raises can still be improved, Alfred Gomis has been very solid on his line for a few weeks. Despite his hesitant start to the season, the 28-year-old Senegalese goalkeeper thus posts a percentage of saved shots of 76.3%, the fourth of the L1 goalkeepers behind Paul Lopez (82.1%), Walter Benitez (78.3%) and Anthony Lopes ( 77%). Not so bad for a guard who has long left doubts about his case.