Highlights: Nantes 1, Rennes 1

After this weekend's draw, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes are still in with a shout of making the Europa League next year. They will need to make up some points in the last two games, however.

Short Weekend Preview

• Maurice Edu and Rangers look for three points (and a Celtic slip up) on Saturday morning against Aberdeen
• In the Premier League, Everton and Tim Howard host West Ham United (tape delayed on FSC) while Clint Dempsey and Fulham travel to Newcastle United (live on Setanta from 9:40 a.m. ET)
• Everything to play for in the Bundesliga, on both ends of the table. Michael Bradley and Borussia Mönchengladbach travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
• Oguchi Onyewu will try to help Standard Liege past KAA Gent on the final day of the season in Belgium. For a full preview of the final day, listen to our podcast with Gooch from earlier this week.
• On Sunday, Rennes will try to keep their Europa League hopes alive with a trip to Nantes.
• Also on Sunday, José Francisco Torres and Pachuca will try to wrap up their series with Jaguares. Torres scored in the 3-1 victory in the first leg.
  

Midweek Action

Lots of games this Wednesday, so stay tuned as leagues around Europe go down to the wire.

• In Scotland, Maurice Edu and Rangers will look to leapfrog Celtic in the top spot. Celtic won yesterday, but Rangers can go back to the summit of the table with a win against Hibs today.
• Borussia Mönchengladbach escaped the relegation zone on Saturday with a win against Schalke. Now Michael Bradley's team will look to put some daylight between themselves and the other clubs near the bottom: 'Gladbach travels to Energie Cottbus in tonight's Bundesliga six pointer.
• Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes will try to recover from a shock cup final defeat this past weekend with a game against Caen. Rennes still have a shot at qualifying for the Europa League, but they'll need to pick up some major points heading into the final stretch.
• Speaking of the Coupe de France, here are some highlights from the game:
  

Rennes Suffers Cup Heartbreak

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes were denied their first trophy in 38 years, losing 2-1 to Guingamp in a dramatic Coupe de France final. Bocanegra headed Rennes in front at the Stade de France, after he got on the end of a freekick midway through the second half. But lower division Guingamp did not give up, with Eduardo grabbing two goals in the space of 11 minutes to turn the tide. While a win would have guaranteed Rennes a place in Europe, they'll now have to rely on finishing high enough in Ligue 1. Rennes will need to finish in the top five to qualify for Europe; they're currently in seventh place.

Rennes Pushing for Europa League

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes are making a late push for a fifth place spot in Ligue 1, and a berth in next season's Europa League (the re-stylized UEFA Cup). Rennes beat PSG 1-0 on Sunday, to move within four points of Toulouse who are currently in fifth position.

Carlos into Cup Final

Just days after compatriot Tim Howard advanced to a Cup final, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes did the same in France. Rennes advanced to the Coupe de France final with a 1-0 victory against Grenoble. Moussa Sow's header in the first half proved to be the difference, while Bocanegra played 90 minutes at center back (not his customary position during his first season in france in France). The victory puts Rennes into the cup final for the first time in 38 years with their opponent yet to be determined. Toulouse and Guingamp face off today for the other spot at the Stade de France.

Weekend Results

• Rangers kept pace with Celtic in the Scottish Premier League by beating Hibernian 3-2. Maurice Edu grabbed the winning goal for Rangers, his second in recent weeks for the Glasgow club.
• Clint Dempsey went the full 90 minutes in Fulham's 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Middlesbrough.
• Borussia Mönchengladbach missed the chance to move free of the Bundesliga drop zone with a 4-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt. Michael Bradley, who played the full 90 minutes, missed a second half penalty for 'Gladbach.
• In a loss with Europa cup implications, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes fell 3-1 to AS Monaco on Saturday.

Better Highlights: Rennes v St. Etienne

Highlights from Belgium and France

Standard Liege's 1-0 win over Lokeren:

Rennes' 1-0 win over St. Etienne:

Highlights from Sunday

José Francisco Torres played 45 minutes of Pachuca's 2-2 draw with Santos:

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes' loss to Sochaux:

Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege's 3-1 win over G. Beerschot:

Borussia Mönchengladbach's 0-0 draw with Karlsruhe:

Everton's easy victory over Wigan (not too much to do for Tim Howard):

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Rennes Held at Home

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Valenciennes yesterday. Bocanegra went 90 minutes for Rennes, who remain in seventh place in Ligue 1.

Better Highlights: Le Mans vs. Rennes

Highlights from Rennes' 1-1 draw with Le Mans this past weekend:

Last Minute Equalizer for Rennes

Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes kept pace with a European spot by rescuing a last minute draw yesterday against Le Mans. Moussa Sow popped up in injury time to tie the score at 2-2 and keep Rennes in 7th spot in Ligue 1.

Better Highlights: Rennes v Auxere

Carlos Bocanegra's goal from this weekend. As the announcer points out, he was also voted the sexiest player (Joueur le plus sexy) at Rennes by voters on the club's website. A good week all around!

Good to be Back

Rennes made it three wins from four, as Carlos Bocanegra returned from yellow card suspension to score the winning goal in a 2-0 victory against Auxerre. Bocanegra was alert at the near post to head home Mickael Pagis' cross in the 9th minute. Rennes remains in 6th place, three points out of a Champions League spot. The top four in Ligue 1 qualify for Europe, with fourth place dropping into the Europa League.

Wednesday Results

• Jonathan Spector came off the bench to help West Ham earn a 1-0 win away to Wigan Athletic.
• Clint Dempsey played 90 minutes but Fulham fell at home in an unlikely loss to Hull City.
• Tim Howard had to make only one save in Everton's uneventful 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
• Rangers fell to second place in the SPL with a 1-0 loss to Inverness. Maurice Edu started the game, his second consecutive appearance in midfield for Rangers, before being subbed off in the second half.
• Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes eased past Lorient in the Coupe de France Round of 16, winning 3-0.
  

Midweek Action

Lots of midweek games around the world this week:

In England, Tim Howard and Everton travel to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers. You can see this game delayed on FSC at 5:00 p.m. ET. Clint Dempsey and Fulham host Hull City at Craven Cottage, while Jonathan Spector and West Ham lineup against Wigan Athletic.

Rangers will look to keep their noses out in front of Celtic in the SPL, with Walter Smith's side facing Inverness at Ibrox later today. Pedro Mendes is still out, which means Edu could again get the start for Rangers, whose goal difference advantage at the top of the SPL was trimmed to just four goals this weekend.

In continental cup action, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes host Lorient in the Round of 16 of the French Cup.

Late Drama for Rennes

Rennes did the rest of Ligue 1 a solid by snatching a point at the death in their game against Lyon, which finished 1-1. Carlos Bocanegra had a goal disallowed for Rennes, who needed a stoppage time equalizer to grab the tie at the Stade Gerland. Rennes remain 10 points out of first place, but the gap at the top has been trimmed to just four points, with Lyon holding the edge over PSG.

What We're Watching

Saturday

7:40 a.m. - Everton vs. West Brom, Setanta - Tim Howard and Everton clash against bottom-of-the-table West Brom in the early match on Saturday morning. West Brom will be going for their first win at Goodison Park in 30 years.

10 a.m. - Arsenal vs. Fulham, FSC - Clint Dempsey and Fulham travel to the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal will be putting their unbeaten home record on the line in a London derby. Check out a video preview of the game here.

Sunday

7:25 a.m. - West Ham vs. Manchester City, Setanta - Jonathan Spector will look to make his second consecutive Premier League start in a game where former Hammer Craig Bellamy's return to Upton Park with new team Manchester City is the main storyline.

11 a.m. - Werder Bremen vs. Bayern Munich, Gol TV - Bayern Munich and Landon Donovan travel to the Weserstadion to face Werder Bremen on Sunday. Bayern thrashed Sporting Lisbon mdiweek, and will look to carry that form into the Bundesliga where they've suffered a recent dip in form.


2:55 p.m. - Lyon vs. Rennes, Setanta - In a match that could have major title implications, Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes face league leaders Lyon at the Stade Gerland. Rennes, who beat Lyon earlier in the year, are 10 points away from Lyon, but a win for Rennes could pull themselves (and the rest of the chasing pack) closer to the seven-time league champions.

Better Highlights: Nice v Rennes

Forgot to link to this from a few days ago...