Saturday, October 24, 2009

 21:00 - Stade Rennais FC / Montpellier Hérault SC 

Rennes got off to a respectable start to the season under new coach, former Nice boss Antonetti, going undefeated in their first six league matches and seeing off Sochaux in the League Cup, the Rouge et Noir hit a snag with their Week 7 trip to Bordeaux.

Going down 1-0 to the reigning champions, Rennes followed this up with a 1-0 home loss to Auxerre and a 0-0 draw in Lille and Antonetti will be keen to get his side back to winning ways against surprise packet Montpellier when the sides clash at the Stade de la Route de Lorient on Saturday night.

But he knows it won't be an easy match against a side that, although promoted from Ligue 2 last season, sits equal on points with Lyon after a blinding start to the season.

"They're very well organised and they have a good mix of youth and experience. [Montpellier coach] René Girard, who I think is great, is doing an excellent job. On Saturday, we'll have to look at Montpellier as league leaders rather than as a promoted side."

In-form Dzodic

And indeed Rennes will need to be on the lookout against Ligue 1's best attacking side, who have scored 17 goals this season. With their leading scorer, Serbian international Nenad Dzodic, having scored three goals, with the other 14 coming from eight other players, it is evident that goals can come from anywhere on the pitch.

Just as well then that Rennes have the best defensive record in Ligue 1 this season, having conceded on a miserly six occasions - defensive form that recently earned right-back Rod Fanni and 'keeper Nicolas Douchez call-ups to the France squad.

They will have their hands full dealing with Argentine midfielder Alberto Costa, who with two goals and three assist for the season so far seems to be picking up where he left off in last season as one of the best players in Ligue 2, linking well with Colombian international forward Victor-Hugo Montaño and France U-21 international Karim Aït Fana, who each have two goals to their names this season.

Going forward Antonetti can count on the evergreen Jérôme Leroy to pull the strings in midfield while Ghana international Asamoah Gyan, their top scorer with four strikes, is back from an injury sustained on international duty and keen to revive his partnership with Guinea international Ismaël Bangoura, signed from Dynamo Kiev in the summer.

Strike sensation and France international Jimmy Briand is still out with a long-term knee injury however, as is Sweden international and captain Petter Hansson, who is suffering a calf injury.

Stunning start

Girard has quality all over the park however, and with a defensive midfield pairing of Sylvain Marveuax and Romain Pitau letting precious little through to the defence, goal-minded Dzodic and two-goal Bosnian international defender Emir Spahic could well continue their scoring form.

However, while Montpellier has enjoyed a stunning start to the season, it is still early days and Girard is well aware that they are no longer the unknown quantity they were at the beginning of the season.

"We're continuing to improve. At the start of the season we surprised sides because no-one expected much from us. No-one, including us, knew what we were capable of. A lot of people talk about my midfield of Pitau, Marveaux and Costa, but I always have 11 warriors on the field and another seven on the bench.

"We've stepped up to every challenge and I think we've done this by playing strongly as a team. Other teams are studying us and trying to neutralise certain players, but I want my lads to keep on playing their own game. If we meet a stronger team, then we lose to a stronger team."

A win could see Montpellier take top spot in Ligue 1 for the first time in their 27 season among the French elite, while Rennes can only climb one place to seventh if they take the three points. Nonetheless, Antonetti's men will be doing all they can to live up to their early-season promise and get back to winning ways.

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