Toulouse FC – Stade Rennais: Beye on borrowed time as Rennes collapse (2-2)

“The management knows I have the energy and the ability to make this team win tomorrow,” Habib Beye told reporters in his pre-match press conference. The Stade Rennais head coach knew how precarious his situation would be if he failed to deliver Rennes’ third win of the season. It all seemed to be going to plan when his side stormed to a 2-0 lead, but quickly hope turned to despair for a manager living on borrowed time.

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

After stringing together two wins in a row by defeating Olympique Lyonnais and bottom-of-the-table FC Metz, it was back to reality on the weekend for Toulouse FC as they fell to a 1-0 defeat away to AS Monaco. Le TéFéCé have been far from consistent this season in their bid to enter the European conversation; four wins, four defeats, and one draw left them in 9th coming into this midweek round of fixtures. 

A position below them in the table sat Stade Rennais, but the two teams could not be further apart in mood. Rennes entered panic stations following their fifth defeat of the season on the weekend to OGC Nice. Head coach Habib Beye’s position at the club is under threat, with one leading French outlet jumping the mark and reporting that he had already been sacked. 

Carles Martínez Novell pulled few surprises in picking a 3-4-3 shape. Guillaume Restes was in goal behind a defense consisting of Rasmus Nicolaisen, Charlie Cresswell, and Mark McKenzie. In midfield, Francis Abu and Cristian Cásseres Jr. were flanked by wing-backs Dayann Methalie and Djibril . . .