Rennes

Ten-man Rennes picked Lorient apart in a 5-0 win on home soil last weekend. Rennes had a two-goal lead after the first forty-five minutes, thanks to goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud (17') and Martin Terrier (19'). Two minutes after the break, Traore (47') extended the lead to three before goals from Flavien Tait (79') and Gaetan Laborde (90'+3) wrapped up the five-goal haul at Roazhon Park, despite the numerical deficit. The victory comes after back-to-back defeats, DWLLW, and leaves Rennes in 3rd place with 59 points from 18W, 5D, and 11L. Rennes are six points adrift of second-placed Marseille [65 points] and a win here could see the Red and Blacks cut the six-point gap to three points if Lyon comes out on top in the Clash of the Olympics. Rennes have lost only one of their last ten games against St. Etienne in Ligue 1 [5W, 4D, & 1L], winning three of their most recent five by at least a three-goal margin. They will be eager to add to the tally on Saturday, knowing they have the second-best attack in Ligue 1, behind PSG [76 goals], having hit the back of the net 75 times this season. A G.R. of 2.21 GPG after 34 Ligue 1 games. However, the Red & Blacks have the worst defense in the top-five, having conceded 36 goals, - an average of 1.06 goals conceded per game. Bruno Génésio is expected to piece together a 4—3—3, with Serhou Guirassy at the center of the attacking trio. Center-back Nayef Aguerd is ruled out for the weekend’s game after picking up a red card against Lorient in the 58th minute.

Rennes wobbled to a 3-2 win over Reims, and berthed in safety despite seeing a three-goal lead cut down to one within twenty minutes. A brace from Benjamin Bourigeaud (39' & 43'), coupled with a goal from Martin Terrier (58'), gave Rennes a three-goal lead before the hour mark. However, goals from Busi (60') and Cajuste (81' P.) reduced the three-goal advantage to one at the Stade Auguste Delaune. The narrow win leaves Rennes unbeaten in five games, WWWDW, and in third place, having picked up 56 points [GD +36] after 17W, 5D, and 9L. A win for Rennes could see the club move into second place ahead of Marseille [59 points, GD +22], who take on the league leaders, PSG, on Sunday. Stade Rennais have been able to consistently create in the final third, scoring 67 goals in 31 Ligue 1 games this season, for an average goal ratio of 2.16 GPG. In addition, Rennes have shipped only 31 goals, an average of 1 goal conceded per game. Bruno Génésio will be looking to shut the door on Monaco when he lines up the 4—2—3—1 with Gaëtan Laborde at the top of the shape. Jérémy Doku (calf injury) remains in doubt for the weekend’s game alongside Alfred Gomis (broken finger).

Rennes tumbled out of the Europa Conference League, despite a 2-1 win over Leicester City on Thursday. Rennes were looking to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg of their round-of-16 clash at Leicester but crashed out with an aggregate 3-2 defeat to the Foxes. Back on French soil, Rennes picked up three points following an impressive 4-2 win over Lyon. Goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud (11'), Baptiste Santamaria (13'), Lovro Majer (45'+1), and Mertin Terrier (49’) were enough to decide the outcome of the game, despite goals from Lyon’s Toko Ekambi (59') and Moussa Dembele (81' P.). The results leave Rennes with four victories in a row: LWWWW, and in 4th place, having picked up 49 points from 15W, 4D, & 9L. Rennes have hit the back of the net in six out of seven episodes against FC Metz, and are looking to do so again on Sunday. The club has a goal ratio of 2.04 GPG this season, having scored 57 goals in 28 Ligue 1 games. Rennes have also conceded 27 goals [0.96 GCPG] and have a G.D. of +30. A 4—3—3 formation with Gaëtan Laborde, playing through the middle of the attacking trio, is expected from Bruno Génésio for this game against Metz.

Meanwhile, Rennes were swept aside in their encounter with Premier League opposition, following Thursday’s 2-0 loss in the UEFA Europa League round-of-16 clash with Leicester City. Les Rouge et Noir will now look to overturn a two-goal deficit next Thursday, March 17, when they take on the Foxes in the reverse fixture on home soil. Last weekend, Rennes picked up a 2-0 win over SCO Angers, courtesy of goals from Benjamin Bourigeaud (33') and Gaetan Laborde (87'). Rennes are sitting in 4th place with 46 points from 14W, 4D, & 9L, and are coming off the back of three straight victories: WLWWW. Bruno Génésio could see his side pick up four in a row for the first time since December 2020. Les Rouge et Noir was seen in the 4—4—2 formation for the game against SCOA and could return with the same shape and personnel on Sunday. Serhou Guirassy and Gaëtan Laborde are expected in attack.

Rennes picked up a 4-2 win over Montpellier on the road last weekend at La Mosson, leaving the club with back-to-back victories, LWLWW, and in 4th place, having picked up 43 points from 13W, 4D, & 9L. Rennes are behind third-placed OGC Nice by three points, and Bruno Génésio views Sunday’s game as a fine opportunity to narrow the gap between themselves and the Eaglets, who face PSG in a difficult fixture on Saturday. A victory here would see them level on points with OGC Nice if PSG picks up a win in Saturday’s clash. Rennes have a goal ratio of 1.96 GPG this season, having scored 51 goals in 26 Ligue 1 games. The club has conceded 25 goals [0.96 goals conceded per game] and has a G.D. of +26. Injury-plagued, Rennes could line up with the 4—3—3 formation, having Martin Terrier, Gaëtan Laborde, and Benjamin Bourigeaud in attack for this clash against SCOA. Stade Rennais could be without as many as four players when they make their 27th Ligue 1 appearance of the season on Sunday.

A 2-0 win over Brest on Sunday saw Rennes remain in 5th place on the Ligue 1 table, having picked up 37 points from 11W, 4D, & 8L. Goals from Gaëtan Laborde (20') and Martin Terrier (90') saw Rennes return to winning ways; LLWLW. Following the win, Rennes are looking to pick up back-to-back victories at the end of this clash against Les Parisiens. However, Bruno Génésio is well aware of the task ahead, as a win over PSG appears to be a tall order. In the 2-0 win over Brest, he lined up the 4—3—3, with Benjamin Bourigeaud, Martin Terrier, and Gaëtan Laborde in attack. The familiar trio may be seen again on Friday when Rennes takes on PSG.

Rennes slipped from 2nd to 3rd place on the Ligue 1 table after the 2-1 defeat to OGC Nice on Matchday 18 at the Stade de la Route de Lorient. The club has amassed a total of 31 points from 9W, 4D, & 5L and will be returning for this fixture against Monaco after the second defeat in five games: WWLWL. Rennes have a goal ratio of 1.83 goals scored per game, having scored 33 goals in 18 Ligue 1 games. At the other end, Les Rouge et Noir have conceded 16 goals (0.89 goals per match) so far this season and have a G.D. of +17. Bruno Génésio and Les Rouge et Noir could make an appearance with the 4—3—3, leaving Gaëtan Laborde at the focal point of attack. Martin Terrier, who is the club’s top scorer with 8 goals, is expected alongside Laborde on the left, while Benjamin Bourigeaud could be on the right.

Rennes picked up a 5-0 win over AS Saint-Étienne last weekend at the Geoffroy-Guichard. A hattrick from Martin Terrier (22’, 28’ & 48’), coupled with a goal from Lesley Ugochukwu (83’) and an own goal from Yvann Maçon (45’ O.G.), completed the five-goal haul. The impressive 5-0 win leaves Rennes with 12 points out of a possible 15, as the club returned to winning ways: WWWLW. The victory also saw the Red & Blacks move one spot ahead, from 3rd to 2nd place, on the Ligue 1 table, having picked up 31 points after 9W, 4D, and 4L. On the numbers, Rennes have a goal ratio of 1.88 g.p.g. this season, having scored 32 goals in 17 Ligue 1 games. The Red & Blacks have also conceded 14 goals and have a G.D. of +18. An average of 0.82 goals conceded per game. An attacking 4—3—3 formation, with Gaëtan Laborde at the center of the attacking trio, is expected from Bruno Génésio for this game against OGC Nice. Flavien Tait (hip injury) is ruled out of this fixture.

Rennes picked up a comfortable win over Lorient at the weekend and remain unbeaten in five Ligue 1 games: WDWWW. Both sides had failed to score in the first period until after the break. Rennes left it late, bagging both goals in the final fifteen minutes of the second forty-five. Gaëtan Laborde (75’) tucked in the rebound after poor goalkeeping from Lorient’s Paul Nardi left the ball in his path. Minutes later, Jeremy Doku (78’) struck with a remarkable curling effort which rattled the back of the net. 2-0! It finished. Rennes are in 2nd place on the league table, enjoying a remarkable start to the season after amassing 28 points from 8W, 4D, & 3L. Impressive numbers at both ends of the pitch leave Rennes with a goal ratio of 1.73 gpg, this season, having scored 26 goals in 15 Ligue 1 games. They have also conceded 12 goals (0.8 goals conceded per game) and have a G.D. of +14. Bruno Génésio will aim for a win, knowing that failure to do so could see the club slip lower down on the table. A 4—4—2 formation with Gaëtan Laborde and Jeremy Doku in attack is expected for this fixture against Lille.

Rennes return from European commitments after the 1-0 UEFA Conference League Matchday 4 win over NS Mura on Thursday. Back in France, the club picked up a 2-2 draw against the Ligue 1 newcomers, Troyes last weekend. Rennes’ Nayef Aguerd (9') bagged the opener within ten minutes, but Adil Rami (38’) struck for the equalizer. Five minutes to the stroke of halftime, Rennes found themselves behind after Troyes’ Tristan Dingomé (40’) gave the home side the lead. However, nine minutes to time, Martin Terrier (81’) came to the rescue with the equalizer, salvaging a point to ensure Rennes remains unbeaten in five games: DWWWD. Fortunately, the club remained in the same spot at the end of Matchday 12, having 19 points after 5W, 4D, & 3L. A decent goal ratio of 1.5 goals per game keeps Rennes in the top five and leaves the club with 18 goals after twelve appearances. Furthermore, the club has conceded 11 goals (0.92 goals conceded per game) and has a goal difference of +7. A conventional 4—4—2 formation may be seen from Bruno Génésio against Lyon on Sunday, with Martin Terrier and Gaëtan Laborde forming the two-pronged attack. Jérémy Doku remains ruled out following the knee injury, with a return date not set by the club.