Rennes FC vs Celtic Live Blog: Scores and Updates
Welcome to our live blog for the Rennes vs Celtic Europa League opener. Keep up with all the live action.
Celtic will be happy to come out with a draw in a tough contest against a top class Rennes side. A tale of two penalties as both Niang and Christie converted from the spot. Things boiled over at the end a bit there after that Hayes tackle on Traore. Bayo was clearly unlucky to be sent off there after the Rennes keeper made the most of his challenge too pressurise the referee into sending the striker off just 8 minutes after coming on for Edouard.
FT RENNES 1-1 CELTIC
90+5′ Great chance for Christie. But his shot is blocked out for a corner. Nothing from it though as has been the trend with Celtic corners this season.
90+3’YELLOW CARD! Christie goes into the book as well. Things are boiling over here.
90+2′ RED CARD! Bayo has been sent off after making a challenge on the Rennes goalkeeper. Harsh decision there from the referee who succumbed to the pressure.
90+1′ Da Silva has been carried off as he wont be able to continue. Rennes down to 10 men for five minutes of extra-time.
89′ YELLOW CARD! Bayo picks up a card only 5 minutes after coming on with an elbow on Da Silva. Deserved booking.
88′ SUBSTITUTION (RENNES)
ON Siebatcheu
OFF Grenier
Jullien has been immense tonight.
86′ Rennes are turning the screw here looking to win the game with a late goal.
84′ SUBSTITUTION (CELTIC)
ON Bayo
OFF Edouard
83′ Things are getting feisty in Rennes. The French fans on Hayes’ back since that tackle. Never a penalty though.
80′ Traore has picked up a knock there and is unhappy with Hayes’ tackle.
79′ Hayes with a full blooded tackle on Traore. Gets to the ball but the trailing leg takes the Rennes man out. Not a foul.
The double substitution has turned the game in Rennes’ favour.
77′ Another corner for Rennes. Flicked across goal but there is no one to take it for Rennes.
76′ Rennes have a corner but fail to trouble Celtic with it. Goal-kick.
74′ The referee has not been at his best here. Missing out a lot of fouls on the visitors.
These Rennes fans do not care about the health of their voices.
71′ DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION (RENNES)
ON Del Castilo & Camavinga
OFF Tait & Martin
68′ SUBSTITUTION (CELTIC)
ON Hayes
OFF Bolingoli
67′ Bolingoli looks like he has pulled his groin here.
66′ CLOSE! Forrest is inches wide from making it 2-1 to Celtic after cutting in from the left and unleashing a thunderous shot at the Rennes goal.
65′ Celtic growing in confidence and pushing for a second.
63′ Great free-kick from Rennes. Inches wide.
62′ Rennes win a free-kick in a dangerous position.
59′ GOAL! Christie! Brilliant penalty. 1-1. Let’s go.
58′ PENALTY! Celtic win the spot kick as Forrest is taken down. Christie set to take it.
57′ SUBSTITUTION (CELTIC)
ON Ntcham
OFF Elyounoussi
56′ Morel tiptoes past two Celtic defenders but unable to find the space to shoot.
55′ Celtic have made a good start to the second half. Must keep up this pressure though.
51′ That was a penalty. Christie tripped in the box. VAR was needed there. Unfortunately not in the Europa League.
50′ Rennes dink a cross into the Celtic box but Jullien calmly passes it out of danger.
48′ Celtic win a free-kick in a dangerous position. Christie takes it but the ball is a little too high for Brown to make proper contact with it.
47′ Christie makes a run into the Rennes box but is unable to keep his balance at the end and stumbles over.
46′ We are back underway in France.
The game is very much open at the moment but Celtic are missing that extra bit of quality required in the final third. Johnston’s mazy runs have been missed. Rennes on the hand must be thanking their lucky stars as Niang, who was an injury doubt heading into the game, has made the difference by first winning the penalty and then converting it.
HT Rennes 1-0 Celtic.
44′ Boli makes a terribly mistimed challenge to put Rennes through. The shot though is blocked and ultimately cleared out from Celtic.
43′ Forster almost makes a mess of a back pass but is able to clear it just in time with Tait quickly closing him down.
42′ Celtic enjoying some decent possession but the penetration is not just there.
40′ Our struggles from corners continue as Rennes launch a counter attack. Thankfully it ends with a tame shot at Forster.
39′ Brilliant from Elyounoussi to win a corner!
Celtic have a mountain to climb here.
38′ GOAL! Niang makes no mistake from the spot. 1-0 to the home side.
36′ PENALTY! Niang goes down in the box after Ajer fouls him. Cannot complain. Ajer is livid with himself.
35′ YELLOW CARD! Traore of Rennes is booked for a challenge on Elyounoussi.
33′ Celtic manage to win a corner after an Elyounoussi cross is blocked out. The corner though is caught by the advancing Mendy.
32′ Lofted balls from the Rennes midfield are causing Celtic some problems to say the least.
30′ Raphina forces a save out of Fraser Forster with a shot from distance.
28′ Scores remain 0-0 as we approach the half hour mark.
The Rennes fans are electric!
23′ YELLOW CARD! Brown is cautioned as well.
22′ YELLOW CARD! Edouard makes a brilliant run into the Rennes box but then goes down in what is adjudged to be a dive from the referee. The Frenchman goes into the book.
20′ CLOSE! Brilliant ball into the box from Bolingoli. Just inches away from being put away by Elyounoussi. Agonisingly close.
19′ Some good play from the back there from McGregor.
18′ Rennes have controlled most of the action till now, pushing back the Hoops at every oppurtunity they get. But the score is still 0-0.
13′ Rennes almost take the lead. Brilliant ball into the box but the Rennes man can’t keep his header down.
9′ Some beautiful play from the Bhoys. Rennes are forced to bring down McGregor. Free-Kick.
5′ Scores remain scoreless after five minutes of action.
4′ Christie is one-on-one with the Rennes keeper but the referee calls it back for a foul against Edouard.
KICK OFF We are underway at the Roazhon Stadium.
CELTIC XI
67 Fraser Forster
33 Hatem Abd Elhamed
35 Kris Ajer
2 Christopher Jullien
23 Boli Bolingoli
8 Scott Brown (c)
42 Callum McGregor
49 James Forrest
27 Mohamed Elyounoussi
17 Ryan Christie
22 Odsonne Edouard
Substitutes: Craig Gordon, Vakoun Issouf Bayo, Moritz Bauer, Jonny Hayes, Lewis Morgan, Tom Rogic,Olivier Ntcham.
RENNES XI
Mendy
Traore
Gnagnon
Da Silva (c)
Morel
Grenier
Bourigeaud
Martin
Tait
Raphina
Niang
Substitutes: Salin, Gelin,Lea Siliki, Camavinga, Siebatcheu, Del Castillo, Hunou.
Stadium: Roazhon Park. Home of Rennes.
Referee: Jose Maria Sanchez.
Celtic will travel to Roazhon Park to take on Rennes in their opening game of the 2019/20 Europa League Group Stage. After their failure to qualify for the Champions League for the second successive season, the Scottish champions will be looking to appease their fans with a long run in the Europa League. But they have been handed a tough group that includes Italian giants Lazio, French giant-killers Rennes and the team that eliminated Celtic from the Champions League qualification stage, CFR Cluj.
Rennes have started the season in hot form and currently sit at second on the Ligue 1 table. They also have a 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain at home this season and are a handful for any team on their day. Even though their manager, Julien Stephan, has declared Celtic as favourites, the Glasgow club should be wary of the threat that the French side possess. Last season they beat Arsenal by a score of 3-1 in the Europa League and are very dangerous at the Roazhon Stadium.
Celtic will be without Mikey Johnston for the game. Rennes on the other hand have received a boost with star forward M’Baye Niang getting fit just in time for the tie.