Lyon vs Rennes Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
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When is Lyon vs Rennes on and what time does it start? Lyon vs Rennes will take place on Friday 26th January, 2024 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lyon vs Rennes? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Lyon vs Rennes on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Lyon vs Rennes
Where can I stream Lyon vs Rennes in the UK? If Lyon vs Rennes is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LYON
It has been an absolute nightmare of a season for Olympique Lyonnais and they have slipped back down to third from bottom and in the relegation playoff place after their 3-1 loss to Le Havre a couple of weeks ago but there were some mitigating circumstances in that one as they went down to nine men in that game.
Pierre Sage, who is their third permanent manager of the season after both Laurent Blanc and Fabio Grosso were sacked in the first-half of the campaign, has overseen a general improvement in their performances and results. OL come into this one on the back of a 2-1 win over Bergerac Perigord in the cup last weekend and they have suffered just one defeat in their last six matches.
RENNES
During the November international break, Bruno Genesio was replaced by former manager, Julian Stephan. Stade Rennais had initially improved after a few months of underperformance but they do begin the 19th match day of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign sitting in the bottom-half of the table with just five victories in their 18 games so far this season.
Rennes do come into this one on the back of an up-turn in form, though, which continued with a 9-8 penalty shootout victory over Olympique de Marseille in the Round of 32 of the Coupe de France. They are now unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions after returning from the Ligue 1 winter break with a 2-0 defeat of title challenging, Nice, a couple of weeks ago.
THE TEAM NEWS
LYON
Ernest Nuamah and Mama Balde are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, whilst Duje Caleta-Car is out suspended but Jake O’Brien has returned from his suspension.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Lopes; Mata, O’Brien, Kumbedi, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Caqueret; Cherki, Maitland-Niles, Moreira; Lacazette
UNAVAILABLE: Nuamah (International duty), Balde (International duty), Caleta-Car (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES
Both Nemanja Matic and Amine Gouiri are out injured for this weekend, whilst Warmed Omari is missing through suspension and Christopher Wooh is away on international duty.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mandanda; G. Doue, Belocian, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Le Fee, Santamaria, D. Doue; Kalimuendo, Terrier
UNAVAILABLE: Wooh (International duty), Omari (Suspended), Gouiri (Injured), Matic (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The home team are one of the giants of French football but the seven-time Ligue 1 winners could well join the likes of Girondins de Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne down in the second-tier. They have been much-improved over the last month or so, though, and should ease themselves away from the danger zone. They face a Rennes side that have also shown an improvement in the last month and this one, as a result, has the potential to be quite an entertaining encounter on Friday night.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
