2023-09-21 21:15:43
The Europa League takes back power. And, for once, French clubs have started their European campaign well. Facing Maccabi Haifa, Stade Rennais put on a show at Roazhon Park to quietly win (3-0). For its part, Toulouse, back after 14 years of absence at this level, took a good point against Union Saint-Gilloise (1-1).
The jewels of the evening for Rennes
Honor to the Breton club, just for the show offered. From the first minute of play, on an innocuous touch near the Maccabi area, Ludovic Blas showed his genius. After a Rennes recovery, the former Nantais player controlled the right in a pivot to follow up with the left from 25 meters away with a shot into the top corner. An absolutely magnificent goal!
In the 23rd minute, Arthur Theate almost did the same with a powerful strike from 30 meters which crashed into the opponent’s left post. It was only a postponement for Stade Rennais who made the break with another sumptuous long-range strike. On a poorly cleared corner, Adrien Truffert took his chance to volley with a touch at 20 m. A floating recovery which hit the post before entering the net of the Israeli goalkeeper, standing on the spot.
????⚫ RENNES KNOCKS OUT THE MACCABI HAÏFA! Truffert doubles the lead for the Breton club with a magnificent recovery at the entrance to the opponent’s area. Bruno Genesio’s men feast at Roazhon Park (2-0). #SRFCMAC pic.twitter.com/l3xLlJu5y4
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) September 21, 2023
For the rest, a generally controlled match, other spectacular missed attempts like that of Salah on an acrobatic recovery just off target, and above all very few scares in the Breton defense. Bertug Yildirim came to close the match with a corner on the hour mark (3-0). Bruno Genesio’s men are already taking the reins in group F, with 3 points, tied with Panathinaikos, surprise scorer of Villareal (2-0). A perfect evening.
Téfécé grabs a point
For its return to the European scene after 14 years of absence, Toulouse had to wait 10 minutes longer at kick-off to return to the Europa League because of traffic jams around the stadium. In a Lotto Park, the Anderlecht stadium, in mauve colors – the Union Saint-Gillois stadium is not approved – the Toulouse residents waited 18 minutes to shoot on goal, in a very close match.
The first big chance of the match finally came in the 30th minute on the Belgian side, with a shot saved in front of his line by Logan Costa. 7 minutes later, it was Guillaume Restes who saved his team. The deliverance, on the Toulouse side, finally arrived on a penalty, for a shirt pulling just before half-time. Thijs Dallinga was responsible for transforming it to take the lead at the best moment (1-0, 45 + 3rd).
In a second half dominated by USG, Toulouse ended up breaking down and conceding the equalizer on a beautiful number from Amoura in the area. After clearing two defenders, number 47 slipped a slightly deflected near-post shot that Restes was unable to stop (1-1, 69th). Téfécé suffered in an unbreathable end to the match but still got the match point missed by Begraoui, alone against the opposing goalkeeper. Toulouse finally leaves, thanks to a very good Rest in the goals, and despite the expulsion in the last seconds of Costa for a second yellow, with a good away point.
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