After an almost unexpected draw against Paris SG (1-1), Nantes offered itself the precious Western derby against Stade Rennais on Sunday at Beaujoire (1-0). With this success, the first at home since December 2023, the Canaries even join the Bretons in the ranking, the latter (12es) being just ahead with the goal difference (14 points, -2 against -4 for Nantes)
The epilogue of this derby, long rhythmic but messy and poor in action, will undoubtedly enter the legend of the confrontations between the two regional rivals. While this match was heading straight towards a logical 0-0, a number from Moses Simon on his left side, punctuated by a powerful strike into the opposite net (1-0, 89e) set fire to a refrigerated Beaujoire and deprived of part of the Loire Tribune, after the start of the invasion of the pitch against Le Havre, two weeks ago.
Biceps goal, Sampaoli sent off
But in the fourth minute of added time, Christopher Wooh thought he had inflicted a memorable cold shower on the Canaries by equalizing before the video referee noticed that he had scored with his bicep and not his shoulder, invalidating his goal ( 90e+5), to the great fury of Jorge Sampaoli, expelled in the crush which surrounded this decision.
In any case, all this added spice to a match which had above all confirmed the current difficulties of the two clubs. The Rouge et Noir were unable to confirm the progress seen against Saint-Etienne, during a match facilitated by a penalty obtained and a red card for the opponent shortly after half an hour of play, resulting in a 5- 0 in trompe l'oeil.
This time, they even shot themselves in the foot in added time of the first act, the young Mikayil Faye (20 years old) being sent off after a tackle as aggressive as it was useless in front of the touchline. Until then, Rennes had seemed closest to scoring, a strike from the same Faye (26e) and especially a cover by Amine Gouiri (45e+2) requiring great reflexes from Patrik Carlgren, once again preferred to Alban Lafont in the cages.
Offensive gaps before the clearing Simon
But Nantes had still prepared the match well and completely shut down the pair of central midfielders, Jordan James and Azor Matusiwa, who were ultra-dominant against Saint-Etienne. Despite this, the obvious good will of the Nantais remains weighed down by major offensive shortcomings and they did not offer much in the first act, apart from a header that was too uncrossed and without much danger from the former Rennais, Matthis Abline (28e).
After the break, coach Antoine Kombouaré brought out a midfielder, Pedro Chirivella, then a defender, Nathan Zézé, to bring in the offensive Mostafa Mohamed (59e) and Sorba Thomas (75e) and take advantage of the numerical advantage. Nicolas Cozza was very close to taking advantage of a fleeing center from Abline (73e), before Simon gives them three points once again falling from the sky.
Nantes therefore signs its second victory in 17 matches at La Beaujoire and removes a little – but not completely, far from it – the specter of a dismissal of Kombouaré which seemed quite inevitable before this match. On the Rennes side, which must still host Angers before the league break, hopes of recovery now seem to rest more on the winter transfer window.
