Rennes vs Lille Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
When is Rennes vs Lille on and what time does it start? Rennes vs Lille will take place on Saturday 16th September, 2023 – 16:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Rennes vs Lille? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Rennes vs Lille on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Rennes vs Lille
Where can I stream Rennes vs Lille in the UK? If Rennes vs Lille is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
RENNES
Owned by the Pinot family, Stade Rennais have some finance and backing that could see them challenge for the top three and the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots this season. Over the summer, they have sold both Lovro Majer and Jeremy Doku to Wolfsburg and Manchester City for large fees respectively but have also brought in several interesting additions.
The home team have started the campaign in steady form and after four matches so far this season, they are still unbeaten. Rennes began with a 5-1 demolition of newly-promoted Metz and since then they have shared three successive draws against Lens, Le Havre and then Stade Brest before the September international break.
LILLE
Former Shakhtar Donetsk and Roma manager, Paulo Fonseca, led Lille to a fifth-place finish and UEFA Europa Conference League qualification last season. The northerners played an excellent style of football with the likes of Angel Gomes being key to the way in which they went about their business. Another season pushing towards the top end of the campaign is to be expected.
They came through a hard-fought UEFA Europa Conference League playoff tie against Rijeka a couple of weeks ago with Jonathan David scoring a crucial goal in extra-time of their second-leg in Croatia. In Ligue 1, they have managed two victories and a draw in their opening four matches but have scored just five goals, which will be an irritation for Fonseca.
THE TEAM NEWS
RENNES
Bruno Genesio has to deal with two injury issues and both are in attack with striking duo Arnaud Kalimuendo and Martin Terrier both injured for this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matic, le Fee; Blas, Salah, Gouiri
UNAVAILABLE: Kalimuendo (Injured), Terrier (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LILLE
Paulo Fonseca has a relatively issue-less selection decision for this weekend’s trip to Rennes but they are without the still injured Adam Ounas.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Chevalier; Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro; Yazici, Andre, Gomes, Gudmundsson; Cabella, David, Cavaleiro
UNAVAILABLE: Ounas (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These are two sides that are evenly matched with similar goals for the season in terms of pushing into the top four or five spots and they both have tactically similar philosophies. Rennes do not have the upcoming distraction of UEFA Europa Conference League group stage football, whereas Lille face Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana on Wednesday afternoon. Both sides will feel they can get at the other and we could be set for quite an intriguing and entertaining encounter for the neutral with strengths and flaws aplenty.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
