On Tuesday night, the Stade de la Route de Lorient will be filled with a sense of anticipation mixed with worry, doubt, excitement and most importantly…hope. And in the end, it’s the hope that kills you. If any set of fans are equipped to back up that old cliché, Stade Rennais’ are positioned better than most. After losing in the 2009 final to Ligue 2 side Guingamp, then again in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue to Saint-Etienne last season, they must be sure that it’s about time for some success in a knock-out tournament.
Angers are not quite the cup specialists that Rennes have been lately, as their last final appearance was back in 1957, losing 6-3 to Toulouse. They will therefore be hoping to pile more misery on Rennes and make it to the Stade de France for the first time. It’s not quite a derby, but it’s not far off. Rennes have a huge dislike for FC Nantes, and Angers aren’t exactly fans either, which hasn’t created a mutual friendship, but there is enough bad blood to make it spicy.
Rennes’ first season under Philippe Montanier has been hard to judge; at times it’s looked like a lost ship without a sail, then every so often the propeller jumps into action sending them on a good run, before running out of gas and needing a refill. Wonderful away wins at Toulouse, Nantes and Marseille are countered with home defeats to Guingamp and Toulouse, and while it’s no disgrace to get beat by Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, the latter result will be frustrating since they dominated the Monegasque club at the weekend – having one eye on the threat of Angers may have had something to do with the 1-0 defeat.
Rennes really have nothing to play for in the league, as realistically they are safe from relegation and too far away from the European places to make a late dash; Angers on the other hand are still fighting on two fronts, and the cup run may have had an adverse effect on their quest for promotion. Since the last 16 victory over CA Bastia on penalties, Angers have only won three out of their last 10 league games. However, the third victory came this weekend over Le Havre.
They may not be in the best form, but Angers are still in a good position to win a place in Ligue 1. Four teams are level on 50 points – Caen, Nancy, Niort and Angers – six points behind Lens in second and four points ahead of Tours in seventh. It’s Angers’ away record that has kept them in the hunt, with only six defeats in 16 games, giving them the fourth best away record in Ligue 2, so Stéphane Moulin will not be too daunted to take his side to Brittany on Tuesday night.
On the way to the semi-final Angers have already been living dangerously. They have won four penalty shoot-outs, the most recent in the quarter-final win over lowly Moulins. Rennes will be only the second top-flight side they have faced after they beat Sochaux 1-0 in the last 32, Djibril Konate with the 70th minute winner.
They are not completely lacking in top-flight experience. Goalkeeper Gregory Malicki made nine appearances for Rennes and after some loan spells he spent seven years in Lille up until 2009. Now at Angers since 2010, he has become a hero at the club and it would be a fitting story if now at 40 years old, he was able to inspire his team to the Coupe de France final.
As well as the safe hands of Malicki, Angers will be relying on the goals of strike duo Khaled Ayari and Mohamed Yattara, who both have nine goals in the league and will be so important to Moulin’s side if they are to challenge Rennes for a place in the final.
Rennes’ run to the semi-final has not been easy. They have had to beat two Ligue 1 sides, the first a tough penalty-shoot out against Valenciennes which could have gone either way, they then beat Boulogne and Auxerre before they were excellent in the 2-0 win over Lille in the quarter-final.
In getting this far Rennes have to give a huge thank you to their January signings; Kamel Grosicki opened the scoring against Lille and the victory came on the back of a great performance from Ola Toivonen. The Swedish striker has scored six times in 11 games and has been somewhat of a revelation since his arrival.
Toivonen’s season would be topped off beautifully with an appearance at the Stade de France, and there is little doubt that if Rennes are to play well against Angers, the Swedish striker will play a huge part of that. Not to mention the talents of Romain Alessandrini, Abdoulaye Doucoure and their own shot-stopper, Benoit Costil.
The fairy-tale story would be to see Ligue 2 side Angers reach the Coupe de France final, but under Montanier, Rennes are trying to build something special and winning some silverware would be the ideal start to their new chapter. Rennes are no doubt the favourites, but like for most of their Ligue 2 campaign, write off Angers at your peril.
Indicative odds : Rennes 8/13 to win, 2/9 to go through – draw 14/5 – Angers 6/1 to win, 3/1 to go through.
Match : 21.00 CEST on Tuesday 15th April, on Eurosport France.