Derby Draw in Brittany Derby

The first Brittany Derby of the season between Nantes and Rennes ended in a draw, with both teams right to feel hard done by. Pedro Henrqique and an unfortunate own goal from Sylvain Armand settled the tie between the two biggest teams in the North-West of France.

Stade Rennais were without winger and top scorer, Paul-Georges Ntep due to suspension whereas the home side were without midfielder, Georges-Kevin N'Koudou. Rennes set up with their familiar formation, with Benjamin Andre replacing Ntep, whilst Nantes played a structured 4-2-3-1.

Nantes' fans were in full voice, being led by their ultras behind the goals to the far right of the Stade de la Beaujoire and Rennes' fans took up their familiar allocation in the top left of the stadium. Both fans had their respective tifos on show in hope that the display would help spur their team onto victory.

The match started with the high intensity expected of the derby, both teams applying pressure and keeping a high tempo in the early proceedings. Costil was pressured early to produce some nice footwork as he was put under pressure by the Nantes attackers. This started an impressive first attack from the visitors- Habibou dummied a pass onto an alert Pedro Henrique who ran 30 yards into the box, baring down on Nantes keeper, Riou and calmly slotted home a side footed effort putting Rennes a goal ahead.

Rennes used the early momentum to their benefit and had a great opening spell, much to the surprise of their fans. Feeling the pressure and noise from the home fans, Nantes began to pick up their performance. Nantes hunted for an immidiate leveler, and the first chance to do so came through veteran defender, Sylvain Armand who accidently made contact with a long freekick into the box. Rennes keeper, Benoit Costil forced himself into a heroic save, tipping the ball over the bar.

Nantes took immense confidence in the error prone Rennes defence and nearly drew level when their own defender, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo got his head on a cross. The Venezualan international headed the ball into the ground and the ball bounced in front of Costil, who tipped it once again over the bar for a corner. Rennes became more frustrated as the half went on, and this was shown when Gelson Fernandes were shown the first yellow card.

Rennes had more of the ball with 61% possession at a point in the game, however any time Nantes got the ball they got forward and looked like scoring with every attack. Costil was forced to work again when Nantes attacker, Yacine Bammou struck a powerful shot from the corner of the box- Costil was equal to it, parrying the ball over the bar. Bammou was the focal point for a Nantes goal once again, when a header from a cross hit the crossbar. Nantes were doing everything bar scoring a goal.

Nantes finally barged the door down and drew level through an own goal. Sylvain Armand was the unfortunate player, as his head met a Nantes freekick- mirroring the previous accident. This time Costil could do nothing to stop it as it trickled down to the bottom right at the post. Armand was marking Djilobodji as the ball came in, it evaded its intended target and the ball dropped on Armand's head.

Nantes could have taken the lead when the home side won a freekick as Mexer obstructed Gakpe. The following freekick skewed massively wide of the mark landing near the away fans who gave a sarcastic cheer to their opponent's player. Rennes had a half chance not so soon after when the goal scorer, Pedro Henrique placed a high cross to striker, Habibou, who couldn't meet it. The first half drew to a close with little in the way of a goal scoring opportunity.

Rennes manager, Philippe Montanier would have told his team not to give away slack freekicks, but his team went against their boss as Nantes had the first chance of the half...through a needless freekick close to goal. Fortunately, the freekick hit the wall and the ball was cleared from the Rennes defence and managed to achieve a freekick at the corner of the Nantes box which came to no avail.

Rennes thought the had taken the lead as Pedro Henrique got the break of the ball on his stride into the Nantes box. The winger went right to the line before cutting the ball back to the waiting Habibou who hit the ball into the back of the net. Habibou went off celebrating as did the traveling support, but the celebrations were cut short as the linesman raised a late flag for a goal kick, indicating that Henrqiue had taken the ball over the line. Photographic evidence suggests that the decision is too close to call and impossible to be seen properly by the far side assistant.

Montainer would be racking his brain to try and figure out why his team weren't ahead, but the pressure would have risen as Rennes have away another needless freekick close to goal. Cissokho had taken the ball to take the freekick but after an arguement with team mate Gakpe, the right back surrendered his chance to take the opportunity. Gakpe replicated the previous freekicks as it was sent wide of Costil's goal.

The match became more scrappy as the second half went on and a couple of players went into the referees book from both sides- Nantes' Gomis and Rennes' Danze were yellow card respectively, although Danze would have felt more hard done by. Rennes began to get more of the ball in attacking areas, winning two corners and a tight offisde call when Habibou tried to beat an offside trap.

Rennes thought the had went in front once again and Habibou was in the mix of it. The pacey striker thought he had beaten Riou once again as he notched the ball past the goalkeeper, staring the premature celebrations once again. Indications later showed that Habibou was a quarter of a yard offside. It was to be his last piece of action in the match as goal hero from the midweek cup tie with Marseille, Hosiner replaced him.

Nantes began to fade in the final third as the second half was drawing to a close, the strikers were static and offering nothing to pass to up top. A late Rennes throw deep into the Nantes half was the last chance at forcing a winner from either of the two teams but nothing came from it as they held onto the ball to achieve the draw.

Nantes travel to Bastia in their next game, whilst Rennes have another Brittany Derby on their hands as they host Lorient.

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