Preview: Rennes vs Strasbourg – prediction, team news, line-ups
Sports Mole preview Wednesday’s Ligue 1 clash between Rennes and Strasbourg, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
reindeer hope to revive the Ligue 1 top three when they host Strasbourg at Roazhon Park on Wednesday night.
Les Rouge et Noir have lost three of their last four games in all competitions but still remain in fifth place, while Les Bleu et Blanc are in the relegation zone after losing at home to Toulouse in their last game.
Match Preview
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Rennes finished in fourth place last season, just three points from the Champions League places, and they look set to do it again this year, given they are six points behind third-placed Marseille with just over half of the season. gone.
At Roazhon Park, the Rouge et Noir have been particularly formidable, posting the second-best home record in the entire division, winning nine and losing one of their 10 games so far.
As such, Bruno GenesioThe squad will go into Wednesday’s game with confidence, especially as they got the better of Strasbourg away from home earlier this season, winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Martin Terrier and Amine Gouiri.
Form has been uneven for Rennes in recent weeks, having failed to win their last three games on the road, including their last match, in which they were beaten 2-1 at sixth-placed Lorient.
However, in the last match the Rouge et Noir played at Roazhon Park, they were at their usual best, beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 and impressively managing to limit their opponents to just one shot on target the whole time. the game.
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Strasbourg were nowhere near as impressive at home as their opponents, losing 2-1 to Toulouse at the Stade de la Meinau in their last game, despite Kevin Gameiro giving them an early lead.
Form has been a bit better on the road, however, with a 2-1 win over Lyon in mid-January showing the Blue and Whites have what it takes to take on some of the top sides in the division.
It is often the defensive record of Mathieu Le Scornetwho let them down, having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 14 competitive matches, a streak dating back to September, when they played out a 0-0 draw with Clermont.
After a run of just one win in their last 10 Ligue 1 games, Strasbourg find themselves three points from safety, and they’ll know they need to start picking up their form soon, especially at home, where they don’t failed to win all season.
Form of Rennes Ligue 1:
Rennes form (all competitions):
Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:
Team News
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Rennes have a number of key injured players, the most prominent being Terrier, who has nine goals and four assists to his name in Ligue 1 this season, and Gouiri is expected to lead the line in his absence, with Kalimuendo missing as well.
Lorenz Assignon is unavailable at right-back due to a knee injury, so Hamari Traore is likely to keep his place, especially since he assisted the only goal of the game for the Red and Blacks in the last outing.
Passing in midfield, Xeka is about to miss with an ankle problem, with Flavian Tait ready to get the nod in the engine room after scoring as a substitute against Lorient, alongside Baptist Santamaria.
Strasbourg also have a notable absentee in their attack, with Gameiro seeing red in the 2-1 loss to Toulouse, and the striker will be a big miss, given he is their second top scorer in Ligue 1 this season.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will not feature in midfield, having missed the last game with an ankle injury, so Morgan Sanson, Sanjin Pric and Jean-Eudes Aholou are ready to start.
As for the defence, Gerzino Nyamsi is likely to miss again with an injury problem, with Maxime Le Marchand about to replace the central defender.
Possible starting line-up from Rennes:
Mandanda; Traoré, Wooh, Rodon, Théate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Tait, Santamaria, Doué; Gouiri
Possible starting line-up from Strasbourg:
salts; Doukouré, Djiku, The Merchant; Guilbert, Aholou, Prcic, Sanson, Sobol; Diallo, Mothiba
They say: Rennes 3-0 Strasbourg
Rennes’ fantastic home record, coupled with Strasbourg’s very poor form, suggests there is only one path to this match, with the hosts heading home for an easy win.
Gameiro’s absence is likely to play a huge role as the visitors are without one of their main attacking threats, and we can’t see them on the scoresheet without him.
For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
Trick
Our expert forecasting partners at Sportita.com predict less than 3.5 goals in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their proven football tips.Less than 3.5: loop