FC Krasnodar Began the UCL Group Stage with an Away Tie in Rennes
Rennes 1-1 (0-0) FC Krasnodar
Goals: Guirassy, 56 penalty kick (1-0), Ramírez, 59 (1-1).
Stade Rennais FC (France): Gomis, Dalbert (Truffert, 81), Aguerd, Da Silva, Hamari Traoré, Camavinga (Hunou, 81), Nzonzi, Bourigeaud (Tait, 69), Terrier, Guirassy, Del Castillo (Doku, 62).
FC Krasnodar: Safonov, Chernov, Sorokin, Kaio, Petrov (Suleymanov, 73), Vilhena, Olsson, Utkin (Gazinsky, 72), Ramírez, Smolnikov, Berg.
Yellow cards: Hamari Traoré, 44, Camavinga, 63, Tait, 85 – Olsson, 15, Ramírez, 90+3.
Referees: Sidiropoulos, Kostaras, Dimitriadis (all Greece).
VAR: Valeri, Maresca (both Italy).
20 October 2020. France. Rennes. Roazhon Park Stadium. Overcast. 15 degrees.
FC Krasnodar arrived at their first ever match of the UEFA Champions League group stage with a less than ideal list of available players. Various health problems left three leaders of the attack off the match sheet, namely Claesson, Cabella, and Wanderson. To make things worse, head coach Murad Musayev did not get to travel to France because he had fallen sick with angina.
One way or another, in the first forty-five minutes the Bulls were very close to scoring their first goal in the UCL group stage. On the 32nd minute a lengthy combination of the black-greens was finished with a shot by Berg from a killing position, but Gomis the goalie saved his team. Late in the first half, Chernov earned a free kick that looked promising, but Kaio sent the ball off target and next to the goalpost after a serve by Olsson. In general, the time before the interval went with the French side boasting territorial advantage, but attacks launched by the Krasnodar players looked sharper.
On the 56th minute Les Rennais scored an opener. Serhou Guirassy executed a penalty kick so flawlessly even Safonov could not save it, even though he guessed right where the ball went. The Bulls scored a quick equalizer three minutes later, however. Cristian Ramírez fired an unsavable shot from the 18-yard line into the near corner of the net.
The home team undertook a few dangerous attacks at the death, but thanks to Safonov performing brilliantly between the sticks the Bulls kept the 1-1 on the scoreboard. FC Krasnodar stood firm and began the group stage of the UEFA Champions League with an away tie.
Rennes 1-1 FC Krasnodar
91 (14) Attacks (quick attacks) 82 (12)
18 Total shots 9
4 Blocked shots 1
7 Shots on goal 4
0 Woodwork hits 0
9 Scoring chances 5
84 Won duels 85
62% Ball possession 38%
559 (88%) Completed passes (accuracy) 311 (81%)
3 Corner kicks 2
0 Offsides 3
22 Fouls 9
