Rennes will host Lille on Saturday in Ligue 1’s final football match of the day. The home side go into the game in fifth place and five points ahead of Lille in the race for European qualification for next season.
The Black and Red are up and down at the moment in Ligue 1 and Lille will hope to take advantage of their host’s form. However, Paulo Fonseca’s team is winless in back-to-back league matches.
[#SRFCRCSA]Déjà passeur décisif plus tôt dans le match, 𝗗𝗲́𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲́ 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗲́ scelle le sort de la rencontre. 🔒🎙 @bleuarmorique— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) February 2, 2023
[#SRFCRCSA]Déjà passeur décisif plus tôt dans le match, 𝗗𝗲́𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲́ 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗲́ scelle le sort de la rencontre. 🔒🎙 @bleuarmorique
Lille are unbeaten in six straight games in all competitions versus Rennes. Les Dogues won three and drew three of their last six matches versus the Black and Red.
In November, Rennes went to Lille and left with a 1-1 draw. Jose Fonte opened the scoring for Les Dogues in the first half. Rennes’ Benjamin Bourigeaud levelled the scores just before the hour-mark from the penalty spot.
Rennes’ Birger Meling was sent off late in the game with a straight red card. Six cards in total were handed out in the match. The last two fixtures between these clubs finished as draws.
Lille took nine points from their last 18 points on offer in the league. The defence played well conceding just three times, as the attack scored eight times.
Rennes also picked up nine points from the last 18 points on offer. The Black and Red conceded eight goals across the last six games while scoring nine times.
Fonseca could be without his top goalscorer Jonathan David. The Canadian international has 12 goals in Ligue 1 and is the only Lille player with more than four goals. David has a broken hand and could miss the game.
Midfielder Adam Ounas has a thigh injury and is ruled out of the match. Forward Gabriel Gudmundsson is a major doubt following a groin strain. Fonseca will have a limited number of forwards to pick from.
Rennes manager Bruno Genesio will be without defender Hamari Traore due to a calf strain. Forward Arnaud Kalimuendo is ruled out with a hamstring problem. In addition, Lorenz Assignon and Xeka are both set to miss the game through injuries.
Former Liverpool transfer target Martin Terrier has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. He tore his ACL and is in the process of rehabbing the injury.
Lille are on a good run of form versus Rennes with six straight head-to-head games ending without a defeat. Saturday’s game should again end without a defeat for Lille. The match should finish 1-1 with the teams sharing the points.