Stade Rennais dominated the Romanian club for a long time before falling (1-0) on Thursday night, marking the end of their hopes of qualifying in the round of 32. Saint-Etienne, who led 2-0 to 10 minutes from the end, conceded a draw.
To too much to manage, the Rennes lost, Thursday, November 7, at the very end of a closed match on the ground CFR Cluj (1-0). The Romanian club waited for the 86e minute to open the score, breaking with a whim of Salomon Rondon the last hopes of the club to play in the sixteenth finals of the Europa League.
With a tiny point in four games, gleaned against Celtic Glasgow at Roazhon Park (1-1), the men of Julien Stephan are definitely behind in the Group E of this Europa League eagerly awaited but ultimately missed from start to finish.
The Rennes squad had, however, created several chances in the first half, dominating the Romanian group, surprisingly second in Group E in front of Lazio in Rome, without being able to make the Lithuanian international Giedrius Arlauskis give in to the goals of CFR Cluj.
Three wins for fifteen defeats in the group stage
On the restart, Cluj began to play higher, but not long, and Rennes has resumed his pressing, causing yet another unexpected rescue for the Romanians, the indispensable Arlauskis, the foot, on a tense shot by Del Castillo (53e). Just after the best Romanian opportunity, a tight shot by Emmanuel Culio (51e).
The balance of power was balanced until Salomon Rondon opened the scoring. The striker was then sent off for a useless sole on Gnagnon (90e). The long nightmare of the Rennais in this Europa League ended in a mess in the Romanian surface and even a tying goal of Jordan Siebatcheu … canceled by the referee, for a hand foul not obvious of the Rennes striker (94e).
The Rennes will not have the opportunity to reiterate their success last year (two prestigious victories against Betis Sevilla and Arsenal) and leave the Europa League without another European victory. In his history, Julien Stéphan's team has won only three games in the group stage, all last season, for fifteen defeats and six draws.
Saint-Etienne may blame himself
Too febrile in defense, Saint-Etienne, who led 2-0 to 10 minutes from the end, conceded a disappointing draw in injury time against the Ukrainian club Olexandriya (2-2), Thursday in match of the 4e Europa League day.
The Greens, third in Group I with three points, two lengths from the second Wolfsburg, still have a chance to qualify.
They will receive, on November 28, for a meeting of new capital, the Belgian team of La Gantoise, leader of the group after his victory over the German club (3-1). And will face Wolfsburg on the last day in a possible duel for the qualification.
