The semi-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue take place in France this week, as the first trophy of the season is close to being decided.
The first match takes place on Tuesday night as Rennes host Paris Saint-Germain at Roazhon Park.
The home team are enjoying a decent season in Ligue 1 and will see this as a great opportunity to crown their campaign by reaching a cup final. However, they have the might of Paris Saint-Germain standing in their way and its going to be a tough ask for Rennes to come through this match with a win.
Trends show Rennes have won three of their last five matches in all competitions, with wins coming against Lille and Angers in Ligue 1 and Toulouse in the Coupe de la Ligue. They have also tasted two defeats, one was at home to Marseille and the other was on the weekend at Dijon.
Home form has been good this season and Rennes have won seven of their last ten home matches in all competitions but have been victorious in only two of their last five on home soil. They have kept a clean sheet in one of their last six games at home and have conceded an average of 2.83 goals per match.
Unfortunately for Rennes, they have faced Paris Saint-Germain at home recently in both the league and French Cup, losing 4-1 and 6-1 respectively.
Paris Saint-Germain continued their relentless run towards the Ligue 1 title this season when they defeated Montpellier 4-0 at home on the weekend. Having tasted defeat to Lyon the week before, Unai Emery wanted to get back to winning ways immediately and the result was never in doubt.
The defeat at Lyon is Paris Saint-Germain’s only loss in their last eleven games, with the other ten all being wins. They have progressed in the Champions League, opened a gap at the top of Ligue 1 and won through in both domestic cup competitions.
Paris Saint-Germain have won five of their last six away games and have been in excellent goal scoring form. The champions elect have scored in each of their last thirteen away games in all competitions, at an average of 3.18 goals per game.
You must go back to November 2012 to find the last time Paris Saint-Germain lost a match in the Coupe de la Ligue.
Team news and Rennes should have every man available for this match, with no injuries and suspensions to worry about.
Paris Saint-Germain will be without Thiago Motta and Hatem Ben Arfa, who are both injured. There are continuing doubts over the fitness of Neymar and the Brazilian forward will not be risked if he is less than 100%.
In truth, Paris Saint-Germain could probably do without Neymar for this game, having comfortably defeated Rennes away from home in two recent meetings. Rennes could find the back of the net but expect Paris Saint-Germain to come away with the win.