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Former Stade Rennes coach Lazlo Boloni has signed a two-year contract with Monaco, sources close to the club said on Wednesday.
Boloni, who had been at Rennes since June 2003, was released last week after taking the Brittany club to seventh place in Ligue 1.
He will replace Italian coach Francesco Guidolin who has been reappointed by Serie A Palermo after a one-year stint at Monaco. |
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Rennes playmaker Yoann Gourcuff has refused to extend his contract with the Breton club because he feels he is being treated like a financial pawn.
The 19-year-old midfielder's contract runs until June 2007, but with AC Milan, Arsenal, Lyon and Paris St Germain believed to be interested in his services, Gourcuff could be on the move this summer.
"I feel like I am an object and I have big doubts about whether Rennes will to push me to the top," he told Ouest-France.
"I was offered a two-year contract but the club wants to sell me only one year after to make money. I have heard about better sporting projects.
"I don't know what will happen for me in the near future but the only thing I am certain about is that I will not renew my contract with Rennes."
Gourcuff knows he has already attracted the interest of some of Europe's biggest clubs but is reluctant to leave France at such a young age.
"I am on the transfer list and I know that some foreign and French clubs want me," he added.
"But what worries me the most is the idea of moving abroad. If I have to go, I think it would be simpler if I joined a great French club."
Rennes missed out on a place in the Intertoto Cup after their 2-2 draw with Lille on Saturday meant they finished seventh in Ligue 1. |
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Lille claimed a Champions League third qualifying round spot after a 2-2 draw at Stade Rennes in a nail-biting last round of matches in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
The northerners finished third in the standings with 62 points, two more than arch-rivals RC Lens, who beat Nantes 3-1.
Lens finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Cup.
Olympique Marseille, who had still hoped to qualify for the Champions League, ended almost empty-handed.
The Provence side, who were reduced to 10 men after defender Abdoulaye Meite was sent off for a second bookable offence on 70 minutes, were held 1-1 at second-placed Girondins Bordeaux.
Franck Ribery, who hopes to be included in France's 23-man squad for the World Cup on Sunday, missed a penalty in the 27th minute.
Marseille finished fifth and will play in the Intertoto Cup.
Olympique Lyon celebrated their record fifth consecutive title, secured four weeks ago, with a 8-1 rout of Le Mans. |
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Lille go into their final Ligue 1 game of the season against Rennes still uncertain of a second straight season of Champions League football.
The third-placed Les Dogues, who lie two points above nearest rivals Marseille, face Rennes in a must-win clash at Stade de le Route de Lorient.
The task will be all the more difficult, with the Breton side fighting for a place in the UEFA Cup.
"We are already qualified for the UEFA Cup but we don't think about it because our objective is the Champions League," Lille midfielder Mathieu Chalme told the club's official website, www.losc.fr.
"We would be extremely disappointed not to consolidate our place. It would be shame to lose it after all the efforts we have produced this season.
"The UEFA Cup would not be so bad but we'll do all we can to play in the Champions League."
Lille thrashed five-time French champions Lyon 4-0 last weekend but are taking nothing for granted against Rennes.
"Rennes are not fighting for third spot anymore following their goalless draw with Saint-Etienne but they can still book their ticket to the UEFA Cup and they will want a win," Chalme added.
"We expect a tough and tight encounter against Rennes whose offensive potential is a bit like that of Lyon."
Lille coach Claude Puel has a few worries in defence ahead of the clash.
Gregory Tafforeau, who has expressed his desire to leave the club, is sidelined, while Stathis Tavlaridis has a thing problem.
Rennes coach Lazslo Boloni will have to chose between strikers John Utaka and Alexander Frei up front.
Frei is leaving the Breton side at the end of the season to join Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund while Utaka, who had a knee problem, should be fit to play.
In defence, Cyril Jeunechamp (ankle) and Abdes Ouaddou are rated doutful. |
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With just one round of match to be played and occupying the fourth position in French Ligue 1, Super Eagles left-back Taye Taiwo, still exudes confidence of appearing in next year’ UEFA Champions League with Olympique Marseille as his team push for a third-place finish to get the ticket.
In a chat with media sources, the left-footed bomber stated, “Yes, we might be occupying the fourth position now but by our last game, we are very sure of moving to the third position. It is very possible and everybody is working towards this goal after we lost out in the League Cup.
“Even if we are playing away, we are going for the maximum points and there is no stopping us. We need the ticket to get back to where we belong.”
He described the League Cup loss to PSG as very painful for him, stressing, “In as much as I would love to forget that experience, it will continue to come to me. It was a painful loss. I really would have loved to win the cup but it was not meant to be. It is just how it was destined to be and I take it like that.”
Marseille with 59 points from 37 games will be taking on second-placed Bordeaux in an away game while third-placed Lille with 61 points from 37 games is also going away to fifth placed Rennes wagering.
A win for Taye’ team and a loss for Osaze Odemwingie’s Lille, will actualize the dreams of the power-shooting Super Eagles left-back.
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Super Eagles' striker, John Utaka says he prefers to play Premiership football in England, when his current contract with French Championat side, Rennes, grounds to an end "If I leave Rennes, I would love to go to England and play Premiership football because of the competitive nature of the game there and the general excitement which is just massive", Utaka, who still has a year to run in his contract with Rennes, told Brila FM, yesterday.
He however insists that his priority for now is to end the season on a good note with Rennes, who he admits, have performed beyond his estimation.
"We still have one game to go before the season ends and my focus is to keep up doing well so that the club can end the campaign on a solid note", said Utaka.
He added that " we have had a good season and all the glory goes to God and the team. I never saw it coming because everything was just going so well that I just felt on top of the world".
He also commended his Super Eagles' colleagues plying their trade in the French Championat, for rising to the challenge in their respective clubs. These players include Osaze Odemwingie, who netted two goals at the weekend for Champions League hopeful, Lille, Taye Taiwo and Wilson Oruma, both of whom play for losing French Cup finalists, Marseille.
"Our players in France are doing fine", said Utaka, who insists that such performances "show that we have a bright future in the Super Eagles. Hopefully, we will win the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana". |
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Rennes saw their hopes of Champions League qualification all but end on Saturday following a disappointing 0-0 draw at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
The visitors were unable to find a way past home goalkeeper Jeremy Janot, and with Lille also winning their fixture against Lyon, Rennes are now three points behind the third-placed outfit with the two teams set to face each other in a tense showdown next week.
It was not the result departing St Etienne coach Elie Baup had been hoping for either in his last home game in charge after the former Bordeaux boss announced this week his surprise decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
Rennes began the match at a furious pace and nearly registered an early goal when Jimmy Briand fired in a cross which grazed the bar.
And St Etienne goalkeeper Janot also saw some early action, diving at the feet of John Utaka to deny the Nigerian striker.
St Etienne then produced their first opening with Julien Sable's power drive needing a finger-tip save from Rennes keeper Andreas Isaksson.
And Isaksson continued to feel the heat after the interval, making another good stop this time from David Hellebuyck.
Rennes were not prepared to lie down however, and a neat pass from Kim Kallstrom resulted in a fierce drive from Utaka which flew narrowly wide.
And Janot pulled off a spectacular reflex stop to deny a close-range effort from substitute Alexander Frei.
With third place and the Champions League seemingly slipping from their grasp, Rennes mustered one last effort on goal with Kallstrom trying his luck from 25 yards.
But it was not to be for the Swedish international with another stunning save from Janot ensuring the points were shared. |
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Departing St Etienne coach Elie Baup will bid farewell to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium when his side take on Rennes this weekend after announcing his shock departure from the club.
The former Bordeaux boss has been in charge since 2004 but his recent falling out with the St Etienne management prompted Wednesday's decision to throw in the towel at the end of the campaign, leaving most of his players stunned.
"Three weeks ago I did not think that I would leave," said Baup. "I was even planning for next season.
"But I have been a professional coach for 20 years and I've learnt how to read between the lines. I realised I did not share the same values with the club's managers anymore."
Defender Herita Ilunga has expressed his sadness at Baup's departure and urged his team-mates to win maximum points on Saturday as a tribute to their departing boss.
"We feel everything is falling apart now," Ilunga said. "We don't know how we are going to bounce back without him.
"I owe Elie Baup a lot. He helped me boost my career so we will have to offer him a victory over Rennes on Saturday to thank him for all he's done."
On the injury front, Baup will welcome back Zoumana Camara, David Hellebuyck, Vincent Hognon and Sebastien Mazure but midfielder Loic Perrin (knee) is out of contention.
St Etienne face a tough encounter against their Brittany-based rivals, who were disappointed by their mid-week 1-1 draw against Paris St Germain.
Laszlo Boloni's men needed a win to leapfrog Lille in the race for Ligue 1's final Champions League spot.
Kim Kallstrom put his side ahead in the 71st minute but Bonaventure Kalou levelled for PSG in the dying moments.
"This match was full of regrets for us," said Gregory Bourillon. "Now we must bounce back against St Etienne."
Rennes, who are sixth but just one point from third spot will welcome back defender Cyril Jeunechamp (ankle). |
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Bonaventure Kalou, who scored the opening goal in Paris St Germain's French Cup final victory over Marseille on Saturday, half-volleyed a 90th-minute equaliser against Rennes on Wednesday.
The 1-1 draw meant Rennes cannot catch second-placed Bordeaux for an automatic place in next season's Champions League.
But Marseille won 2-1 at Auxerre to climb to fourth, behind third- placed Lille on goal difference, and with everything to play for in the remaining two matches for a place in the Champions League preliminary round.
Swedish striker Kim Kallstrom blasted home a 70th-minute penalty to put Rennes ahead, but Paris snatched a share of the points when Kalou rifled home a shot after Colombian defender Mario Yepes had headed down on 90 minutes.
Mamadou Niang put Marseille ahead on 16 minutes and Argentine defender Renato Civelli headed a second on 68 minutes before Jean- Pascal Mignot slotted home for Auxerre after the Marseille defence failed to clear Danish midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg's through ball.
'I was pleased with the way the boys reacted after the Cup final defeat and we still are in with a chance for European football next season,' said Marseille coach Jean Fernandez.
Marseille can climb above Lille when they play relegated Strasbourg next weekend, while Lille host champions Lyon. |
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The Swiss team drew group three in European qualifying and managed to slowly and steadily edge their way to second place in what could have been considered a tough group.
Not only did they have to contend with 1998 champions France, but also the Republic of Ireland, and the emerging Israeli side.
They got their campaign off to a good start routing minnows the Faroe Islands 6-0, before drawing every game with France, Ireland and Israel. They again beat the Faroe Islands in their return leg, and twice managed to defeat Cyprus on their way to second spot in the group.
The Swiss seem to have trouble scoring multiple goals against high quality opposition, and in their qualifying campaign, they were only able to score five goals out of their 18 against France, Ireland and Israel, with three of those coming against the Israeli's.
The Swiss team were drawn to play Turkey in final home and away qualifying for the tournament, and escaped through this series on the back of the away goal rule after, after a 2-0 win in Bern was followed by a 4-2 loss in Istanbul. Their away goals putting them through to the World Cup.
This victory though came at a cost. The match was played with not only drama, but also great ill will between the two teams, and reprehensible tackles and actions from players on both teams were commonplace.
While the Turks lost the right to play at home for a period of six internationals, the Swiss were dealt a greater blow, with midfielder Benjamin Huggel denied his chance to show his ample talent in Germany after being greeted with a six-match ban for kicking Turkey assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek, on his way off the pitch.
The Swiss if they are to succeed in Germany need to score more goals against quality defences, but in the group phase they could shine against Korea and Togo, but also the Koreans can play, as was shown at the last World Cup, and African teams can do anything. As for France the two teams know each other well after having played them twice in qualifying.
Players to Watch
Johan Volanthen: The NAC Breda marksman scored 4 goals in qualifying and unseated the Swiss star of many years Chapuisat from his place up front in the team. Volanthen is only twenty but regarded as a star by PSV Eindhoven who have him on their books.
His blend of pace, skill on the ball and a powerful shot, make him dangerous up front next to Alexander Frei. He has a flair about his play that may have come from him being raised in Columbia till his teens, and he will shine at this World Cup and carry Swiss fortunes with him.
Phillippe Senderos: The Arsenal centre back has been in great from for club and country this year, displacing Sol Campbell in the centre of the Gunners back four, and gaining rave reviews as a true player of the future.
Senderos shows maturity beyond his years and has been calm and effective against some of the World’s best strikers including France’s David Trezeguet, twice in qualifying. Senderos led the Swiss Under 17’s team to a European championship in 2002 and with his solid ability in the air and on the ground he has the potential to stop many an attacking raid in Germany.
Alexander Frei: Stade Rennes striker who has a killer instinct and deadly shot on goal. He is 28 now so this may be his last chance at a World Cup, and he will want to make the most of it. Frei scored six goals in qualifying and is all class, he is extremely important to the team, and when he fires so do Switzerland. |
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French club Rennes have moved quickly to counter Chelsea's interest in wonder kid, Yoann Gourcuff.
Chelsea and Arsenal have been keeping tabs on the 19 year old midfielder who has scored 6 goals in 33 appearances this season.
Gourcuff had an opportunity to join both Liverpool and Arsenal in 2001 when he first signed professional forms but instead opted to sign for Rennes in his home country.
Rennes have started discussions with the player to extend his current deal and President Marc Dreossi told reporters:
"We are in discussions with him and we want to keep him of course.
"I do believe his intention is to stay with us."
Should the player decide to move, the English clubs will face stiff competition for his signature with AC Milan and Juventus also reportedly showing an interest. |
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Marseille playmaker Franck Ribery admits it will be a "big disappointment" if he fails to earn a place in France's squad for the World Cup finals.
The 23-year-old, who scored one of his side's three goals in their Coupe de France semi-final 3-0 win over Rennes spreads on Thursday, has never played for Les Bleus but is tipped to be among the names going to Germany this summer.
The attacking midfielder has stood out like a beacon for the Mediterranean giants this season and he has vowed to continue giving it his all for the remainder of the campaign to secure his place in the France squad.
"Let's say I will do all I can to go to the World Cup," he said after the victory at the Stade Velodrome. "Not taking part in it would be a big disappointment.
"But the coach (Raymond Domenech) makes his choices and I respect them.
"If I do not go, I will keep working hard."
Marseille boss Jean Fernandez has sung the praises of Ribery and insisted he has the ability to make the France squad.
"I have known him for two seasons and he is an exceptional guy," added Fernandez.
"He has the potential to play with France, if not in the short term certainly in the next few months." |
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Nice ended Stade Rennes winning streak in Ligue 1 on Sunday, registering a 2-1 home victory thanks to a goal from Jacques Abardonado deep into stoppage time.
Rennes, who had won eight league games in a row, are fourth in the table with 56 points and three matches left.
They are two points behind Lille, who defeated second-placed Girondins Bordeaux 3-2 on Saturday to hand Olympique Lyon their fifth consecutive title.
Lyon visit Paris St Germain later on Sunday.
The top two advance to the Champions League with the third-placed club entering the third qualifying round. The team finishing fourth goes into the UEFA Cup.
Nice, who take on Nancy in the League Cup final next weekend, are 10th on 49 points.
"It's sad for us but the season is not over," Rennes coach Laszlo Boloni told reporters.
Rennes travel to Olympique Marseille for a French Cup semi-final clash on Thursday.
Former Manchester United striker David Bellion outpaced the defence to put Nice in front after four minutes.
Rennes equalised on the stroke of halftime when Nigeria striker John Utaka curled a shot past keeper Hugo Lloris.
Nice's winner came five minutes into stoppage time when Abardonado cracked home a well-executed volley. |
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Stade Rennais FC took possession of third place in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 win against FC Sochaux Montbéliard, stretching their current winning run to eight matches. Both goals came from Swedish international midfielder Kim Källström.
Calvé handball
The 23-year-old Källström took less than five minutes to open the scoring, beating goalkeeper Teddy Richert after being set up by Olivier Monterrubio, but Sochaux were level on 21 minutes when Souleymane Diawara headed in a free-kick from teenage forward Jérémy Menez. The game turned with 11 minutes remaining, when Sochaux defender Jean Calvé handballed on his own line and was sent off, and Källström converted the resultant spot-kick.
Auxerre draw
Rennes move into the final UEFA Champions League position following LOSC Lille Métropole's goalless draw with AS Nancy Lorraine on Saturday. Lille are one point back, with RC Lens and AJ Auxerre a further two points adrift. Auxerre stayed sixth in the table after a goalless draw at home to Le Mans UC 72 in Sunday's other game. |
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Cesc Fabregas will today travel to Turin with the rest of the Arsenal squad after being declared fit enough to play in tomorrow's Champions' League quarter-final against Juventus.
Right-back Emmanuel Eboué, who was a doubt with a groin injury, has also recovered. The news is a significant boost for Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who had rated the pair's chances of playing in the second leg as 40-60 against.
The injuries were picked up in the 5-0 rout of Aston Villa on Saturday with Fabregas replaced after 18 minutes with a foot injury. However, scans have shown that the 18-year-old Spaniard has not suffered any significant damage beyond some swelling and bruising which has calmed down.
With Arsenal defending a 2-0 lead from last week's exhilarating first leg against the Italian champions, both players are regarded as vital to the chances of qualifying for the last four of the European Cup for the first time. Fabregas is still a teenager, of course, and Eboué is just 22, and yesterday it emerged that Arsenal are continuing their aggressive policy of recruiting the best young talent from across Europe by pursuing their interest in French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff.
The exciting 19-year-old, who plays for Stade Rennes, was again watched by Arsenal scout - and former player - Gilles Grimandi on Sunday at his club's league match away to Toulouse. Gourcuff, an attacking, right-sided player, who can operate in midfield or up front, was again in impressive form in the victory and has been tracked for some time by Wenger, who is hoping to close a deal in the summer.
Gourcuff has just one more year on his contract at Rennes and is likely to leave in the summer. Arsenal face stiff competition from a host of clubs in Italy and France, especially Monaco, who have held talks with the French under-21 international and shown him around their training ground. Indeed, Arsenal's opponents tomorrow, Juventus, are also among Gourcuff's suitors, along with Milan, although Wenger's impressive record of recruiting players from Ligue 1 should not be discounted.
His most recent purchase, along with Emmanuel Adebayor - who is ineligible for tomorrow's match - was another 19-year-old midfielder, Abou Diaby, from Auxerre, and it was Diaby who replaced Fabregas at the weekend.
Diaby remains on standby, with Sol Campbell finally recovered and available in defence. If Eboué suffers a relapse then it is likely Wenger would move Kolo Touré to right-back and deploy Campbell for the first time since his astonishing walk-out after his nightmare 45 minutes against West Ham United on 1 February. Bringing him back for such a crucial match would amount to a risk, although Wenger's other option, using Swiss teenager Johan Djourou, may be more of a gamble.
However, the recovery of Eboué will hopefully make the decision unnecessary. Both he and Fabregas have contributed brilliantly to Arsenal's recent, irrepressible form which Touré described as "our best football of the season".
The Ivorian, outstanding at Highbury, said that the team would travel to the Stadio delle Alpi "without any anxiety". He added: "That was the key to our success at home and we have to play like that again in Turin. There was no euphoria in the team after the first leg because we know that we have not won the tie yet and our manager constantly reminds us of that.
"Juventus have important players missing, but we have had the same problem for many months this season and we have come through positively. Juventus also have that ability and anyone who comes in for them can be a matchwinner." Touré said he was relieved that Fabregas appears to have recovered. "Cesc is a key offensive player for our team," Touré said. "We need him [tomorrow] more than ever."
The captain, Thierry Henry, has also called for cool heads for what he predicted would be the "most difficult" game of the Champions' League campaign for Arsenal. "It's good to go to Turin on the back of a result like that [against Aston Villa]," he said. "But the Champions' League is another competition. Football can always reserve some surprises - and you always have to stay cool and calm." It will help Arsenal's sense of equilibrium that they can call upon their two tiros. |
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Ligue 1 form horses Rennes are riding on the crest of the wave after six consecutive victories and a win at Toulouse would turn six of the best into seventh heaven for the club from Brittany.
The magnificent run for Laszlo Boloni's men has taken a team that was struggling most of the season into fifth place, and they now stand just one point off a UEFA Cup slot and even could aim for a place in the qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
The run has been even more remarkable as it has been achieved without Alexander Frei, who was top scorer in Ligue 1 last season when Rennes finished fourth and has been sidelined since February.
The Switzerland international forward has also had good news this week with confirmation he should be fit for the World Cup and may even return for his club side by the end of April.
Asked about how the team was doing in his absence, Frei told www.staderennais.com: "I am delighted for the squad and the supporters. I have been watching all the matches.
"We have played very well and we have to keep on winning like this and keep fighting until the end. We must even believe we can play in the Champions League.
"I hope to be back as soon as possible with Rennes and then of course with Switzerland."
Toulouse have had a poor campaign despite heavy investment last summer although with 10 points in hand over third bottom Strasbourg they should be safe from relegation.
Coach Erik Mombaerts is expected to make changes again for the match at the Stadium Municipal in a fixture where victory would take Toulouse over the 40-point threshold that normally means a club is safe from relegation to Ligue 2.
Striker Daniel Moreira told club website www.tfc.info: "We know of their recent results and six wins in a row (for Rennes) means this will be a very difficult match for us." |
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Nigeria’s John Utaka walks the streets of France like an idol. Just as club boss canonises him, fans now see him as a hero. But the Nigerian says his best has yet to come. He says he will continue to baptise opponents with goals every week like the biblical John the Baptist.
After scoring 10 goals in three matches, you may not wonder anymore why Utaka was nicknamed Torpedo by the Egyptian fans. His great vision and dribbling skills, coupled with his explosive acceleration and unerring finishing, have certainly placed him as one of the best strikers in the world.
After last weekend’s feat, officials of the French club, Stade Rennais, are in joyous mood over the terrific form of the Super Eagles’ striker, who has now become a terror with his goal-scoring prowess, as he intensifies effort to end the season as the top goal scorer in French League.
So far, Utaka has been very impressive in the league, as he scored another goal last weekend in his club’s 2–0 win over Troyes to bring his goals’ haul to 11.
The Nigerian international, recently, scored four goals in Rennes’ 4–1 French Cup win at SR Colmar.
His newfound scoring magic has sent jitters down the spines of all football pundits, who were opportune to watch him fired blanks at the last African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Utaka actually went back to France to rediscover himself, and has used his gift to market his long-time dream of playing in more lucrative league in Europe.
The Eagles’ attacker had indicated his intention to play in England, but he has yet to find a suitable place to pitch his tent. Now, he has the opportunity to make hay while the sun shines, and he has never relented in his effort to confirm his arrival with goals.
"It's a thing of joy for me to have scored so many goals in such a short time, but don't get confused, it's as a result of team effort," Utaka, who registered back-to-back hat tricks against RC Lens and Olympique Lyonnais in late February before getting injured said.
Goals had previously been scarce for Utaka. The 24-year-old failed to score at the last African Cup of Nations in Egypt. And before now, had recorded only three for Rennes since his summer move from Lens, in addition to one for Nigeria in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. However, he is wise enough to know that, in football, it’s generally best to go with the flow.
"I've seen a lot in my career and this won't change my approach to the job," he said. "One day you are up, the next, down."
Prior to his €6 million transfer to Rennes, Utaka spent three years with Lens, whom he had joined from Qatari outfit, Al Saad.
Ironically, his last goals for Lens came with a treble in a 5–2 victory against Rennes last May.
His latest scoring streak coincided with the absence, through injury, of Rennes's Switzerland forward, Alexander Frei, yet Coach Laszlo Boloni insists there’s more to Utaka's blossoms than just the chance to play as an out-and-out striker.
"Utaka has found his mark and feels more comfortable with us," said Boloni. "That's very important for a forward."
The player scored his 10th league goal of the season, and Ghanaian John Mensah got his first as Rennes picked up a sixth successive league win over Troyes last Saturday.
Rennes are now fifth in the French League, just a point off a UEFA Cup place.
Utaka is now joint fourth top goal-scorer in France’s Ligue 1 along with Nantes’ Malian striker, Mamadou Diallo.
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Troyes saw their relegation plight worsen with defeat against Rennes who posted their sixth consecutive League 1 win.
John Utaka and John Mensah scored the goals for the Brittany club against a Troyes team that is now winless in 11 fixtures.
The only mercy for Troyes is that they remain just one place above the relegation zone although both Strasbourg and Metz made ground on them on Saturday.
With six matches to play all three teams below Troyes are still capable of catching them - only one needs to for them to go down.
Troyes started the match well enough and an early Benjamin Nivet free-kick was just too high.
But at the other end Youssouf Hadji and Kim Kallstrom found Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe who fluffed the chance.
Erik Edman then played in Yoann Gourcuff who looked set to score before referee Claude Colombo whistled for offside.
The reprieve only lasted two minutes for Troyes with Nigerian international Utaka racing onto a clearance from goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson before firing past Ronan Le Crom.
Le Crom later parried a shot from Gourcuff before Hadji headed an Edman cross over as Rennes finished the half strongly.
Early in the second half Le Crom saved well again when Utaka got on the end of a move involving Edman and Olivier Monterrubio.
After 52 minutes Monterrubio was the creator of the second goal for Mensah with the Ghana international finishing with a powerful shot.
Rennes were in full flow and Monterrubio forged an opening for Kallstrom whose shot was too high and then Le Crom foiled Hadji with a good save.
Two minutes from time Troyes could have pulled one back but Isaksson reacted well to keep out a free-kick from Branko Boskovic. |
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Stade Rennais FC sprung the surprise of the Ligue 1 season on Saturday when they beat champions-elect Olympique Lyonnais 4-1 at the Stade Gerland. Rennes revival
French football followers had been wondering what happened to the team that finished fourth last term, clinching a UEFA Cup berth for the first time in their history. However, Rennes's 2004/05 form returned in dramatic style as they dealt Lyon only their second loss in all competitions this season and climbed to eleventh place in the table.
Utaka record
Nigerian striker John Utaka stole the limelight with his second hat-trick in as many games, equalling a feat only previously achieved by Just Fontaine and Michel Platini in 74 years of top-flight soccer in France. "Those goals are the result of a team effort," said the former RC Lens forward, who joined Rennes in 2004. Utaka's first treble came against Lens last weekend, when his side again ran out 4-1 winners to end a five-match losing streak.
Safety measure
"My players have done what I expected of them," said coach Laszlo Bölöni. "I'm happy for the club. They were very efficient and this was a superb personal achievement for Utaka. We also came up against a Lyon side who were probably tired after their UEFA Champions League game at PSV Eindhoven." This latest success was Rennes's fifth away victory of the campaign and they now need just four points to reach the target that president Emmanuel Cueff and owner François Pinault set the team at the beginning of the season.
Frei absence
Saturday's win also came without striker Alexander Frei. Ligue 1's leading scorer in 2004/05 has been sidelined since January with a groin injury and the Swiss international is likely to be out for a further two months. Utaka, though, is clearly thriving in his team-mate's absence. "It was a nice game," said midfielder Youssouf Hadji. "But we did not change league places with Lyon on Saturday. If we want to make this victory better we need to start a winning run. A home win [on 4 March] against [RC] Strasbourg would be perfect."
European failure
It would also help to compensate for the disappointment of Rennes's failure to reach the UEFA Cup knockout stages. Having overcome CA Osasuna in the first round, the group stage proved too steep a learning curve as they lost all four Group G fixtures. "We learned a lot from that experience," said France Under-21 midfielder Etienne Didot. Lyon coach Gérard Houllier will hope his side's mauling at the weekend proves to be similarly enlightening.
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