Rennes vs Saint-Etienne Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Jorge Sampaoli is taking charge of his first game since becoming Stade Rennais boss. His reign began with a loss last weekend and they will be looking to put that right against a fairly average Saint-Etienne side at Roazhon Park this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 30th November, 2024: UK – 4:00pm / US ET – 11:00am / US PT – 8:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Rennes Preview: The Rennes revolution
Former Argentina and Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli replaced Julian Stephan as Stade Rennais boss over the November international break with the Pinault-owned club underperforming in the bottom-half of Ligue 1 after another ambitious summer of spending has resulted in just three victories in their opening 12 matches.
Rennes were beaten 1-0 by Lille at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in his opening game in charge last weekend thanks to a 45th minute strike from Edon Zhegrova. Jorge Sampaoli became renowned for an intense style of football, and intense manner, before a more defensive approach when in charge of Sevilla so it remains unclear how he will look to get Rennes playing.
Saint-Etienne Preview: Stubborn ASSE
Saint-Etienne returned to the top-flight of French football for the first time in a few years last season when they defeated Metz in the end of season promotion/relegation playoff. Former Montpellier Herault boss Olivier Dall’Oglio is in charge of a very defensive and reactive side aiming to simply avoid the drop.
ASSE started the season slowly but have steadily improved as the campaign has gone on. They come into this one on the back of two victories in their last three matches, including a 1-0 defeat of Dall’Oglio’s former club and fellow strugglers Montpellier at the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard last weekend thanks to a winner from Benjamin Bouchouari.
Rennes Team News: No Seidu
Jorge Sampaoli often prefers a 4-2-3-1 system with Rennes so far this season switching between a back three shape as well as 4-4-2 diamond at times.
They have one injury concern for this weekend’s visit of Saint-Etienne as Ghana international defender Alidu Seidu suffered an ACL injury against Lille last weekend.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Mandanda; Hateboer, Ostigard, Wooh; Assignon, Matusiwa, Kamara, Nagida; Gronbaek, Gouiri; Kalimuendo
Unavailable: Seidu (Injured)
Questionable:
Saint-Etienne Team News: Several injuries
New Zealand international attacking midfielder Ben Old has enjoyed an impressive couple of years but he remains unavailable due to injury for the visitors ahead of this weekend.
As well as the absent Old for this one, Saint-Etienne are also dealing with defensive injury issues as Yvann Macon, Anthony Briancon and Mickael Nade are sidelined.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Larsonneur; Appiah, Batubinsika, Ekwah, Abdelhamid, Petrot; Boakye, Bouchouari, Mouton, Davitashvili; Sissoko
Unavailable: Macon (Injured), Briancon (Injured), Nade (Injured), Old (Injured)
Questionable:
Rennes vs Saint-Etienne Prediction
As mentioned, it is not quite clear as to how Jorge Sampaoli will want his Rennes side to play at the start of his tenure but they are expected to be quite front foot in this one with him having Rennes’ home advantage for the first time. Saint-Etienne will sit back but have found a way to be effective on the counter-attack with Ibrahim Sissoko and Zuriko Davitashvili. Rennes are favourites to get a first win of their new era but it may not be straightforward.
Rennes vs Saint-Etienne Tip: Rennes to win & both teams to score
