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It has been a really disappointing start to the season for Stade Rennais and Julian Stephan is coming under increasing pressure this weekend as they now face another struggling side in Le Havre with Didier Digard also on the verge of the sack at Stade Oceane.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 25th October, 2024 - UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
RENNES PREVIEW: FRUSTRATING RENNES
Stade Rennais would have expected to have kicked on this season and tried to push towards the top six and the European spots but they have once again majorly underperformed. The home team have managed just two victories in their opening eight matches so far this season as they hover above the bottom three and the danger zone.
Rennes come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Stade Brest at the weekend in a game in which they required an 86th minute equaliser from former Celtic forward Jota after Romain Del Castillo had given Brest the lead after 54 minutes. Rennes are now winless in their last four matches.
LE HAVRE PREVIEW: MISFORTUNE TO POOR PLAY
After a bright start to the season in which Le Havre had managed back-to-back victories after the visitors had lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain on the opening weekend of the campaign in a game in which they had been the better side for most of the 85 minutes when the scores were level at one apiece.
The visitors have now, though, suffered five successive defeats as the pressure begins to grow on former Middlesbrough midfielder Didier Digard. They come into this one on the back of a 4-0 loss to Olympique Lyonnais in their most recent outing at Stade Oceane with goals coming from Alan Vinicius, Malick Fofana, Alexandre Lacazette and Mohamed Said Benrahma.
RENNES TEAM NEWS: CONFUSING RENNES
Julian Stephan began the season quite well playing a diamond formation in midfield but their form and performances have dipped since switching to the back three system.
The home team are without former Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Leo Ostigard due to a thigh injury, whilst Henrik Meister is also a doubt for this one.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Mandanda; Seidu, Wooh, Faye; Hateboer, Santamaria, Matusiwa, Truffert; Blas, Gouiri; Kalimuendo
UNAVAILABLE: Ostigard (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Meister (Injured)
LE HAVRE TEAM NEWS: NEW ISSUES
Both Andy Logbo, due to an ACL injury, as well as Arouna Sangante, due to a groin injury, have been sidelined and they remain unavailable for the visitors.
As well as those two, Le Havre will also now be missing Yann Kitala due to an ankle injury, whilst Oualid El Hajjam is unavailable with a calf injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-1-4-2): Desmas; Pembele, Salmier, Lloris; Toure; Nego, Operi, Targhalline, Ndiaye; Casimir, Soumare
UNAVAILABLE: Kitala (Injured), El Hajjam (Injured), Sangante (Injured), Logbo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES VS LE HAVRE PREDICTION
Stade Rennais have been built to attack and get on the front foot. They have been a little confused, not helped by Stephan’s choice to switch systems quite bizarrely, and that has led to a lack of cohesion going forward. They face a Le Havre side that desperately require a result and performance to turn things around in order to save Digard and a playing style that does appear appealing. Both teams scoring would appear a good bet for this one but Rennes do remain favourites with their home advantage.
RENNES VS LE HAVRE TIP: RENNES TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE