Lyon vs Rennes. French Ligue 1.
Municipal De Gerland.
Sunday 26 May 2013 23:29, UK
Lyon secured their place in the Champions League next season after overcoming Rennes 2-0 at the Stade Gerland.
Lyon secured their place in the Champions League next season after overcoming Rennes at the Stade Gerland. A first-half penalty from Lisandro Lopez and a stunning free-kick after the break from reported Arsenal target Clement Grenier ensured Lyon finished third. Remi Garde's men will play in European football's elite club competition next season alongside Marseille and champions Paris St Germain while Rennes had to settle for 13th place after a disappointing season. The visitors, for whom it was a final game in charge for coach Frederic Antonetti - he will be replaced by current Real Sociedad boss Philippe Montanier over the summer, started well but could not maintain their momentum. Mevlut Erding had Rennes' first chance with a fourth-minute shot which was well-blocked by home goalkeeper Anthony Lopes and, 10 minutes later, Lopes again had to be alert to keep out a Vincent Pajot volley. Rennes undid all their good work, however, when Onyekachi Apam handled in the area and Lisandro coolly sent Benoit Costil the wrong way from the spot. Costil did rather better two minutes later to pull off a great save to deny Yoann Gourcuff from close range and the Rennes stopper excelled again five minutes before the break to parry clear a curling Lisandro effort. Rennes were still posing a threat coming forward and Lopes twice denied them an equaliser after the restart. His first save saw him turn a Chris Mavinga shot round the post and the second prevented a Pajot shot from finding the bottom corner. As in the first half, Lyon scored having been on the back foot. Grenier lined up a free-kick 35 yards out and sent a swerving effort past Costil in an effort reminiscent of another former Lyon man, Brazilian Juninho. Lopes saved from Jonathan Pitroipa before Costil did well to keep out another wonderful Grenier free-kick seven minutes from time.
