2011-10-20: Rennes 1-1 Celtic, UEFA Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2011 – 2012 | 2011-2012 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic go third in group.
• Concede a crazy goal due to Cha-Du Ri. Rennes had no shots on target first half but still were one up!!!!
• Match overshadowed by doumentary by BBC on Rangers owner Craig Whyte (he's a crook and dodgey geezer etc etc).
• Lennon on tenterhooks as drew last game 3-3 in league after being 3-0 down v Killie. Not easy time for Lennon.

Review

Best performance away in Europe for a very long time. Still can`t help but feel a wee bit disappointed we never won.

Stokes peformed the lone striker role far better than he has done previously, he really should have scored with the first chance though, done well to create it for himself.

Wanyama had another beast of a game, this guy looks like a player. Kayal looked to be on his way back to something resembling his best, got stuck in when needed and broke up countless Rennes attacks.

Even the much maligned Loovens had a decent game.

We can definitely beat this mob at Celtic Park and then it comes down to the Madrid game, we could sneak through this group yet.

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Rennes 1-1 Celtic: Second-half Joe Ledley strike seals point for Neil Lennon’s side to keep faint qualification hopes alive

SPL giants now occupy third spot after leapfrogging hosts after the former Cardiff City man recorded was on hand to share the spoils in France
By Matt Scott, Goal.com

Joe Ledley's header cancelled out Cha Du-Ri's calamitous own-goal as Celtic drew 1-1 with Rennes in the Europa League.

The home side had made several changes to their side, star midfielder Yann M'Vila was left out of the side entirely.

Neil Lennon's men made a decent start to the match, as South Korean midfielder Ki's shot brought a fine save from Rennes keeper Costil following good work from James Forrest.

The Breton side quickly took control of the game however, Abdul Boukari's pace down the right hand side was troubling Celtic's make-shift left back Ledley as he broke into the box but was tackled.

Rennes captain Mangane then headed into the side netting before more good work from Boukari found Youssouf Hadji who flashed a shot across the box which was deflected out for a corner.

Federic Antonetti had found a suitable gameplan and Boukari was again key to a Rennes chance, powering past Ledley and backheeling to Julien Feret who played the ball to Brahimi but the young midfielder scooped his shot over.

Celtic had a glorious chance to score just moments later, Anthony Stokes was played down the left and turned inside Mangane but when one on one with Costil, lacked composure and hit his shot straight at the 'keeper.

The Hoops were then made to pay in calamitous circumstances. Ki's poor free-kick was claimed by Costil who hit a huge clearance looking for Tettey. The kick was too long and Cha cut the ball out but under no pressure his back pass went past Forster and into the Celtic net.

The own-goal gave Rennes further momentum and Hadji headed just over from Tettey's cross but they couldn't create any further chances and Celtic will have been glad to get to half-time having just conceded one goal after a cautious first period.

An improvement was required from the Hoops but they were unable to impose themselves on the early stages of the second half, Tettey broke into the Celtic area and was only denied by a last-gasp Loovens tackle.

Boukari had an opportunity following Hadji's blocked header from Feret's corner but could only slash over.

Rennes left-back Chris Mavinga then had a great chance to double his side's lead, losing Cha after a one-two with Feret but Fraser Forster narrowed the angles well to deny the former Liverpool trainee.

The changes to Rennes' side looked to be taking their toll as some of the fringe players tired and they made a double change on the hour.

The home-side seemed to lose momentum after this and Celtic carved a few goal-scoring chances in quick succession, first Cha squared the ball to Stokes in the box but the Irishman fired straight at Costil once again.

Cha then had a chance to atone for his earlier howler and brought a good save from Costil down to his right, Ki followed the ball in but could only shoot over when presented with a great chance to score.

The game had now opened up with Celtic and Rennes trading attacks and counter attacks with the pace of the French side looking most dangerous.

It was Celtic who grabbed the next goal however, Charlie Mulgrew's whipped free-kick was glanced home by Ledley to level the scores.

Rennes almost hit straight back as their two substitutes combined, Ekoko's ball across the six yard box was a whisker away from Pitroipa who was sliding in, Mulgrew then had an effort direct from a free-kick which sent Costil scrambling across his goal as the ball flashed past the post.

The home side hinted at a more defensive approach late in the game as Mavinga was replaced by Catherine to provide fresh legs in the Rennes defence.

It was Rennes who created the next chance however, Ekoko's cross was deflected into the air and Hadji's outlandish over-head kick brought a sharp save from Forster, shaky defending from Mulgrew also gave Rennes an opening which Pitroipa and Feret failed to take advantage of.

Neither side were looking to settle for a draw, Mangane denied Stokes from getting in on goal with a fabulous last-man tackle, Pitroipa's fresh pace was also looking dangerous but Loovens and Mulgrew were standing firm.

The game continued at a frantic pace throughout the closing stages, Pitroipa got through on Forster with seconds to spare but the giant Newcastle loanee kept the ball out to send Neil Lennon's side home with a point.

Rennes1-1Celtic

Page last updated at 18:52 GMT, Thursday, 20 October 2011 19:52 UK Ledley's header levelled the match to give Celtic a point Celtic recovered from a bizarre own goal to claim a Europa League point against Rennes in France.
Cha Du-Ri's misplaced passback handed Rennes the lead on the half-hour, moments after Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil had denied Anthony Stokes.
But Joe Ledley's header levelled the match on 70 minutes.
Charlie Mulgrew came close with a free-kick for the visitors and Youssouf Hadji's acrobatic shot was briliantly saved by Celtic's Fraser Forster.
With Udinese beating Atletico Madrid in the evening's other Group I fixture, Celtic and Rennes are two points behind the Spaniards and five behind the Italians.
Kader Mangane headed wide for the home side and Ki Sung-Yung's drive was comfortably held by Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil early on.
An excellent opportunity presented itself to the visitors in the 25th minute as Anthony Stokes escaped his marker to open up a shooting chance.
The striker's effort was on target but Costil was able to push the ball over the crossbar. Cha unintentionally gave Rennes the lead in the first half And Celtic were soon paying the price for that miss and a complete misunderstanding in their own defence as Rennes were gifted the opener.
Cha mopped up a simple long ball under no pressure and tried to pass the ball back to his goalkeeper.
But Forster did not seem to be expecting the defender's intervention and the ball trickled past him into the net.
The hosts looked for a quick second and Alexander Tettey's back-post cross was headed over by Youssouf Hadji.
Chris Mavinga played an excellent one-two with Julien Feret to go through on Forster's goal early in the second half but the keeper's sizeable frame did enough to block the full-back's shot.
Stokes had another chance after being picked out in the box by Beram Kayal but Costil again made the save.
Cha then got in behind the Rennes defence and forced a save from Costil and the ball ran into the part of Ki.
The South Korean tried to place the ball into the gaping goal but his effort cleared the crossbar.
But the visitors were soon level as Mulgrew's superb inswinging free-kick was flicked into the net by the head of Ledley.
Substitute Jonathan Pitroipa was inches away from converting Jires Ekoko's cross as Rennes looked to regain the lead and Mulgrew swerved his next free-kick just wide of the home goal.
A stunning overhead kick by Hadji was matched by Forster's terrific save after the Rennes striker pounced on a loose high ball.
And Forster made another fine block in injury time as Pitroipa was denied after having latched on to a long ball.