Reims vs Rennes Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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After the departure of Will Still at the end of last season, Stade de Reims took the decision to appoint Slovenian coach Luka Elsner from Le Havre and it has been an unusual start as they welcome Stade Rennais this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 1st September, 2024 - UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – beIN Sports or beIN Sports de Espanol
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – Fubo or Fanatiz
REIMS PREVIEW: ADAPTING TO ELSNER
As mentioned, Will Still departed and is now the Lens boss but Stade de Reims, who spent relatively heavily last summer, opted to move for Luka Elsner after an excellent job at Le Havre. They have managed to collect just a point from their opening two matches but were much-improved in their second game.
Their first game was overshadowed by the head injury suffered by Angel Gomes and Amadou Kone’s early red card did make it a lobsided affair with Lille then going on to win by two goals to nil but they then travelled south to the Stade Velodrome to share an entertaining 2-2 draw against a strong Olympique de Marseille side.
RENNES PREVIEW: FINDING RENNES’ LEVEL
Stade Rennais remain under the management of Julian Stephan, who was appointed during the November international break of last season and he did improve them a bit but perhaps not enough to be absolutely assured of his job for the long-term, and the lack of clarity on what their level is has remained after their opening two matches of this season.
For example, on the opening weekend, they travelled to Parc OL to face Olympique Lyonnais and they managed an extremely impressive 3-0 victory against a team that had been the best side in France in the second-half of last season. However, last weekend, they were then comfortably beaten by Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg in Alsace by three goals to one.
REIMS TEAM NEWS: NO TEUMA OR DARAMY
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Diouf; Sangui, Okumu, Agbadou, Sergio Akieme; Munetsi, Atangana, Fofana; Ito, Diakite, Nakamura
UNAVAILABLE: Ab. Kone (Injured), Am. Kone (Suspended), Teuma (Injured), Daramy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT RENNES
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Mandanda; Assignon, Ostigard, Wooh, Seidu; Matusiwa; Kamara, Truffert; Gronbaek; Blas, Gouiri
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
REIMS VS RENNES PREDICTION
Last season, Stade de Reims were entertaining to watch a lot of the time with a back three and some counter-attacking players that were well suited to that sort of play but there switch to a more controlled 4-2-3-1 system is unlikely to produce many thrillers. Rennes, though, with an open diamond system have had two entertaining games against Lyon and Strasbourg and another game in which both teams score, as Reims’ showed they can be open against Marseille, may well be a good bet.
REIMS VS RENNES TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
