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disappointing, Rennes will settle for the play-offs

Held in check at home by Larnaca (1-1), the Breton club will have to go through the Europa League play-offs.

It was necessary to take care of the goal difference but above all to win: with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Larnaca on Thursday at Roazhon Park, Rennes finished 2nd in their Europa League group and will go through a play-off in February.

Matthis Abline opened the scoring (17th) and Rafael Lopes equalized (76th), while in Krakow, Fenerbahce secured the lead and a direct ticket to the knockout stages in March by beating Dynamo kyiv 2 -0. Something to ruminate a little more on the disappointment of this 3-3 draw last week in Istanbul, where Rennes led 3-0. “It wouldn’t be a failure to finish second“However, coach Bruno Genesio assured Wednesday, acknowledging nevertheless that the caliber of potential opponents in the play-off (Barcelona, ​​Juventus Turin, Ajax Amsterdam, Sporting Portugal …) risked earning him some additional white hair.

Despite a sold-out stadium and a great evening atmosphere, the Rennais allowed themselves to be jostled by strong and mobile players, who disputed possession with them throughout the match. Genesio had announced changes, to spare his executives before a shock in Lille on Sunday in Ligue 1, but also to give playing time to certain young people like Matthis Abline or Jeanuël Belocian, little brother of the 110-meter hurdles champion Whilhem, interesting for his first tenure in central defense at 17 years old. But the Rennais were singularly lacking in sharpness. Admittedly, they opened the scoring on a ball recovered high by Benjamin Bourigeaud, who served Abline whose shot was accompanied into the goal by goalkeeper Kenan Piric (1-0, 17th). And Majer believed to increase the score a few minutes later but like last week against Fenerbahçe, his goal was disallowed for a very slight offside from the passer.

But they missed so many chances, while in Krakow, Fenerbahçe took care of their goal difference. In the last half hour, the entries of Amine Gouiri, Jérémy Doku then Lesley Ugochukwu and Désiré Doué, brought a little more rhythm, under the pressure of an impatient public. But still no success. And Larnaca took advantage of it: Dogan Alemdar, lined up to spare Steve Mandanda’s adductors, repelled a strike from Adam Gyurcso at the feet of Rafael Lopes, who entered two minutes earlier, who extinguished Rennes’ hopes with a strike from the right (1-1, 76th).

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