Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
After another ambitious summer transfer window for Stade Rennais, Julian Stephan’s side have the potential to be legitimately good this season as they take on a Lens side adapting well to Will Still’s methods.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 21st
September, 2024 – UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 11:00am
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 UNPREDICTABILITY OF RENNES
Since taking over during last season’s November international break, it has been a relatively unconvincing, inconsistent yet still promising time in charge of Rennes for former boss Julian Stephan. The hosts have spent a bit of money again this summer on the likes of Glen Kamara and Albert Gronbaek with the hope of a top six finish and European qualification.
They began the season with an impressive 3-0 demolition of Olympique Lyonnais before back-to-back defeats against Strasbourg and Stade de Reims before the September international break. Last weekend they enjoyed another 3-0 win, though, as they put struggling Montpellier Herault to the sword.
LENS PREVIEW: STEADY START
For the last couple of seasons, Lens have been the biggest overperformers in France’s top-flight under the management of Franck Haise, including finishing just two points behind Paris Saint-Germain in the 2022/23 campaign. Haise has since departed for Nice with former Stade de Reims English-Belgian coach Will Still taking the reins this summer.
Despite a really frustrating and almost inexplicable two-legged defeat to Panathinaikos in the playoffs of the UEFA Europa Conference League, it has been a positive start to life in Ligue 1 for Lens with the northerners currently unbeaten after four matches after two victories followed by draws against Monaco and Lyon.
RENNES TEAM NEWS: UNCHANGED RENNES
With just Carlos Andres Gomez currently unavailable for Rennes this weekend, there is no reason for Julian Stephan to make any changes to his winning side.
The debate will once again be around the diamond formation used in midfield but with the players at his disposal, it does appear to the most sensible system.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-2-1-2): Mandanda; Hateboer, Wooh, Seidu, Truffert; Santamaria; Matusiwa, Blas; Gronbaek; Kalimuendo, Gouiri
UNAVAILABLE: Carlos Andres Gomez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
LENS TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF INJURIES
Kevin Danso was heavily linked with a move away this summer after an impressive UEFA EURO 2024 for Lens and he remains unavailable for the visitors this weekend.
As well as the Austrian international defender, Will Still will also still have cope with the absence of another key first-team member in Jimmy Cabot due to a knee injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Samba; Gradit, Khusanov, Facundo Medina; Frankowski, Thomasson, Diouf, Deiver Machado; Costa; Sotoca, Said
UNAVAILABLE: Danso (Injured), Cabot (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES VS LENS PREDICTION
It is difficult to suggest what will happen here because it is a clash of styles but, as so often is the case, that clash of styles may produce a genuinely entertaining encounter for the neutral here. Rennes are not the most efficient team but do attempt to be adventurous and ambitious. Lens, on the other hand, are about control with cohesive patterns of play. Both sides know ways in which they can and want to score goals – which sounds basic but is often not the case – so both teams scoring seems a good value bet.
RENNES VS LENS TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
