Second-half goals from Marvin Senaya and Jérémy Sebas helped the hosts to a crucial win to lift them further away from the bottom three.
In Sunday’s early evening match, Stade Rennais headed to Strasbourg with an eye firmly on reinserting themselves back into the European conversation. With Lens and Nice failing to win, and Marseille facing a challenging encounter with Paris Saint-Germain later in the evening, the Breton side had plenty of impetus to rise up the table.
Each side came into the match with a handful of absences, and both played the first half with a measure of caution. Rennes dominated possession, but struggled to make much of it, with the hosts’ ‘keeper, Alaa Bellaarouch, having few saves to make. Steve Mandanda was kept busier at the other end, with Emanuel Emegha having a good chance on the counter, and Racing also threatening from set pieces with regularity.
There were shouts for a penalty just before the break, as Emegha was brought down, but halftime would come with the match scoreless. After the break, Strasbourg were forced into a change, with their Dutch striker going off injured. Youngster Jérémy Sebas came on in his stead, and impressed from the off, forcing Mandanda into a diving save after a jinking run through the Bretons’ defence.
😤 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐍 😤#RCSASRFC pic.twitter.com/jlJVxr6u7b
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) March 31, 2024
The match continued to foment, with both ‘keepers making saves, until Marvin Senaya broke the deadlock twenty minutes from time. The young right back finished off a strong team move, scoring his second goal of the season. The goal seemed to have left Rennes at sixes and sevens, though, and they quickly conceded again, with Sebas slotting the ball home across goal.
No further goals would come, even as Strasbourg scarcely let up their attacks, eager to secure a vital result in the fight to avoid relegation. The result will have done far more for the hosts’ hopes of survival, while Rennes will no doubt view it as a missed opportunity — they remained eighth ahead of Le Classique, while Racing finished the weekend 12th, six points ahead of Lorient in the relegation playoff spot with seven matches to play.
Rennes will have to shake off their disappointment in a massive match against Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France midweek, while Racing will head to Toulouse next weekend looking to move ahead of Les Violets in the table.
Header photo: RC Strasbourg
