UEFA Cup and Ligue Cup draws

By: Shazback | September 1st, 2007

Well, whilst some people have been discussing in the utmost detail the groups of the UEFA Champions League, I only care about the UEFA Cup, where Rennes was drawn against Lokomotiv Sofia, and a little about the French League Cup, where Rennes are to face Clermont.

Well, the lavish show in Switzerland that was given for the UEFA Cup draw was probably quite exciting. But everyone was watching the Champions League draw, so you’ll have to settle for this picture of a hopefully innocent hand picking at random the now-famous red balls with the teams’ names in them.

Anyway, Rennes fell on Bulgarian “A” Professional Football Group (I kid you not, that is the real name of their league) side Lokomotiv Sofia. Now, I’m not a football philistine, so I’ve heard of Loko Sofia, but… I associate them with the eighties. After a quick bit of research, I’m comforted : they are quite a “has-been” club. 3rd last season in Bulgaria’s “A” PFG, and are through to the first round of the UEFA Cup thanks to a 3-1 win over two legs against the famous Otelul Galati… who had finished 5th in the Romanian Liga 1.

Rennes shouldn’t find it too hard to win against them, I think, because not only have Rennes got good form so far this season, but because I’m sure that Emerson, Wiltord, Briand, Leroy, Pagis, Thomert, Moreira and Marveaux will be able to give them quite a few scares both in Rennes and in Sofia. On the other hand, I’m always cautious, because Rennes are, like quite a few French clubs, not that good in cup competitions and against opponents they are expected to beat. Marseille were knocked out of the UEFA Cup last year by Mlada Boleslav at this stage, and Rennes were knocked out in both domestic cups last year by sides that were in lower divisions : Reims (Ligue 2) and Romorantin (National). Rennes’ record in Europe is also very poor, but I’m expecting Sofia to not be able to stop a Rennes side that is simply a lot better than the last ten or so seasons.

In the Ligue Cup (that’s my choice of what to call the “Coupe de la Ligue” in English, stone me if you disagree) Rennes were seeded, and start the competition in the round of 32. Luckily, Rennes avoided the other 17 Ligue 1 sides that had been entered at this tour (Lyon and Marseille receive round of 16 seeding due to finishing 1st and 2nd of Ligue 1), and fell against Clermont Foot Auvergne. This is, as you might have started to get the idea from my previous paragraph, both good and bad news. Clermont Foot Auvergne are a tiny club, who play in Ligue 2 this season after having won the National division last season. However, last season, Rennes fell against Reims, also a Ligue 2 side, and were eliminated. As supporterdom has it however, I’m optimistic. Last season, Reims faced us when we were in a patch of very bad form, and were struggling to get away from the relegation zone. This season, Clermont will have to tackle a whole team that seems more confident, and as I’m expecting 1 or 2 youth players to be starting against them, they will give 200% to impress Dréossi.

To round up the info about these draws, I’m going to mention that Toulouse fell against CSKA Sofia, and since Rennes and Toulouse are both to host the first leg of their matches, then Rennes will probably be getting the same plane back from Sofia on the 4th of October as Toulouse… Since Toulouse were very lucky to steal Rennes’ Champions League spot (courtesy a last minute goal by Rennes’ last day opponent Lille, and a pitch invasion by disgruntled Nantes fans only minutes from the end of their second-to-last game), I’m sure that such an “encounter” would be… Less than jovial.

Useless info : Rennes will be host to Lokomotiv Sofia on the 20th of September, and Lokomotiv Sofia will return the favour on the 4th of October. As for the Ligue Cup, Clermont will recieve Rennes on the 25th of September.