[8] Hamburg's new director of football, Frank Arnesen, formerly of Chelsea, did not help matters either, bringing in many young players in an effort to freshen up the squad and start a new era.

[9] Pitroipa's last game for the club came on the final day of the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, coming on as a 38th-minute substitute for striker Paolo Guerrero in Hamburg's 1–1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

[11] His exit from the club was part of a mass exodus of star names, as Frank Rost, Zé Roberto, Joris Mathijsen, Piotr Trochowski and Ruud van Nistelrooy were also shown the door.

Pitroipa started the first leg at the Stadion FK Crvena Zvezda in Serbia and continued his fine goal-scoring form, netting the equalizing goal for his side in the 41st minute.

Pitroipa beat Bakary Koné to the ball and shot past Hugo Lloris to help Rennes record a 2–1 victory over Lyon on 18 November[19] and move up to fourth in the Ligue 1 table.

[21] After a mazy run through four Evian defenders, Pitroipa lofted the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Stephan Andersen as Rennes won 3–1 on 7 April to boost their bid for European football.

[24] Pitroipa helped Rennes finish in sixth place on 60 points, thanks to scoring a goal in their 5–0 defeat of relegated Dijon on 20 May 2012; the result, however, was not good enough to secure European football for 2012–13 though.

[25] Pitroipa scored his first goal of the 2012–13 Ligue 1 season on 25 August 2012, as Rennes registered their first victory of the campaign with a 3–2 defeat of Bastia, also providing the assist for Mevlüt Erdinç's strike.

[35] Burkina Faso advanced out of the group stage and into the quarter-finals of the competition where they faced Togo on 3 February,[36] and Pitroipa scored the only goal of the game in the 105th minute to send the Stallions into the semi-finals.

[38] The Stallions overcame his sending off and won 3–2 in the penalty shoot-out after the game had finished 1–1 after extra time, booking the country's first ever trip to the African Cup of Nations final.