Rennes Ponder Defensive Weaknesses Before
Juve Clash
Copyright � 1999 Nando Media
Copyright � 1999 Agence France-Presse
PARIS, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Rennes will need to shore up their defence in their Intertoto Cup final first leg against Juventus
on Tuesday after conceding five goals in two matches. Paul Le Guen's side lost 3-1 at home to French league
leaders Paris St-Germain on Saturday following a 2-2 draw at Austria Vienna in the second leg of their semifinal tie on
Wednesday.
"A good team stands on a good defence and good defending starts up front," said Le Guen, who will be without suspended
right back Lamine Diatta. Pierre Brinquin, who would normally have stood in for Diatta, is currently on trial with English premier league side Everton.
Le Guen was upset with the result against PSG, where he made his name as a player, after two controversial refereeing
decisions went against his side. "We had trouble chasing the score and we had to do so after a decision by the referee," said Le Guen, whose side fell behind to a dubious penalty against Bruno Rodriguez, converted by Mikael Madar.
"That penalty cut our legs and was a psychological blow. We were in good spirits (before the match), we were not concerned
about Juventus and we had PSG in trouble. But the score went against us," he said. Burundian striker Shabani Nonda, disallowed a suberb equaliser because the referee had already blown for a free kick, said: "This defeat will have its consequences, especially when you play every three days, which is the case with us." France also have Montpellier, at home to Hamburg SV, and Metz, away to West Ham United, in the Intertoto Cup finals.
Both sides showed good form at the weekend with Metz crushing AJ Auxerre 3-0 at home, including a missed penalty.
Montpellier had a superb first half hour against champions Girondins Bordeaux, taking a two-goal lead. But while Montpellier's involvement in the Intertoto Cup means they are in better form for the league, they are also the
victims of fatigue and Bordeaux came back to draw 2-2.
Montpellier will be without midfielder Philippe Delaye, who pulled a muscle against Bordeaux. Meanwhile, Olympique Lyon will be looking for their first home win of the season in the first leg of their European Cup Champions' League third preliminary round tie against Maribor Teatanic of Slovenia. Lyon, beaten at home by Montpellier in their opening league game 10 days ago, boosted their morale with a 2-1 victory at Troyes on Thursday. But coach Bernard Lacombe would still like to see a vast
improvement. "We mustn't repeat our first two championship matches in which we showed a lot of faults, notably in our positioning and ball-winning," he said.
Lyon will be without midfielder Pierre Laigle, who is nursing an injured knee, and suspended defender Florent Laville
and Swiss striker Marco Grassi.
