Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Rennes and Nantes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Rennes and Nantes round off the Ligue 1 weekend on Sunday night when they meet at Roazhon Park.
Both clubs are currently lingering at the bottom of the top half, entering the weekend in ninth and 10th respectively.
Match preview
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Rennes have made one of the most peculiar starts to a Ligue 1 season in recent years, as they remain unbeaten after six matches but have won just once.
That sole victory came on the opening day when Bruno Genesio‘s side thrashed Metz 5-1, but since then, Rennes have drawn five league matches in succession.
Coming from 2-0 down to salvage a draw against Lille was a positive point they could be proud of, but they will have been left disappointed at throwing away two points against 10-man Le Havre, while also failing to beat a Lens side who are struggling heavily this season.
There have been two uninspiring 0-0 draws against Montpellier and Brest in there too, but they are just one of two sides who have stopped high-flying Brest from winning this season, alongside Marseille.
Rennes have also been dealt a very difficult Europa League group too, but they started it in fine fashion, seeing off Maccabi Haifa comfortably by three goals to nil.
They continue their run in Europe this week in what will be a very challenging seven days for Genesio’s men.
The visit of Nantes is followed by a trip to Villarreal, before they welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Roazhon Park before the international break.
Their unbeaten start will really be put to the test over this week, but they have taken 10 points from their last four home matches with PSG, as well as winning in the capital last season.
Rennes also have a fine record in this fixture, as Nantes have failed to win in their last 10 visits – losing seven – with their last victory coming back in 2013.
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Pierre Aristouy earned his first away win as Nantes boss – and the club’s first since a victory over Ajaccio in early February – in their last away outing at Clermont though.
After a draw and two wins in their first three league games on the road in 2023, Nantes took just two points from the following eight matches before the Clermont win.
Nantes’ season has slowly but surely got better, as they started with two defeats, followed it up with two draws, and have now won their last two.
Defeats to Toulouse and Lille in hindsight now look disappointing given the poor starts that both of those sides have made, while Rennes also threw away 2-0 and 3-1 leads against Monaco to only draw 3-3.
A draw over Marseille was impressive though, considering they played 81 minutes with 10 men, and they evidently took confidence from that performance, as they have since beaten Clermont and saw off Lorient in a thrilling 5-3 victory.
Rennes Ligue 1 form:
Rennes form (all competitions):
Nantes Ligue 1 form:
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Team News
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Rennes’ new signing Enzo Le Fee came on and was then forced off within six minutes after picking up a shoulder injury last weekend, and he will miss this encounter.
Arnaud Kalimuendo and Martin Terrier remain huge misses in attack, but the two are not too far away from making comebacks.
Genesio will hope Bertug Yildirim can fill the void left by the duo for the time being, and the Turk earned his first league start last weekend after netting in the win over Maccabi Haifa in Europe.
Amine Gouiri was dropped to make way for Yildirim, who got his fourth of the season in that win over the Israeli side after getting on the scoresheet for Hatayspor shortly before his departure, and also scoring twice for Turkey during the international break earlier this month.
Goalkeeper Alban Lafont returned to the Nantes squad last weekend after recovering from a broken rib, but Aristouy stuck with Remy Descamps, who has featured in his place so far this season.
Nathan Zeze should return soon from appendicitis, along with Adson and Fabien Centonze, who have both been sidelined with hamstring problems recently.
A thigh injury for Ignatius Ganago has also kept the Cameroonian international out for a couple of weeks, but he is expected to return early next month.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matic, Blas, Doue, Salah; Yildirim
Nantes possible starting lineup:
Descamps; Duverne, Comert, Castelletto, Merlin; Pedro Chirivella, Douglas Augusto, Mollet; Abline, Mostafa Mohamed, Simon
We say: Rennes 0-1 Nantes
A 3-0 win over Maccabi Haifa failed to inspire Rennes back into winning form in the league as another draw last weekend felt like one step backwards.
Nantes’ form has really picked up in recent weeks after a very sluggish start, and they may spring a minor surprise here against a Rennes side with a lot on their plate this week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
