Reims vs Rennes Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
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This final day clash features two mid-table sides that are ensconced with little to play for but rebuilding themselves for the 2024/25 campaign.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Sunday 19th May, 2024 - UK – 20:00 / US EST – 15:00 / US PST – 13:00
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will not be televised live in the UK. / This match will be televised live on beIN Sports in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will not be able to be streamed live in the UK. / This match will be streamed live via Fanatiz in the US.
REIMS PREVIEW: FADING OUT
After a summer, and then winter, transfer window of fairly heavy investment, Belgian-born English coach Will Still found himself under a lot of pressure for much of the campaign before his recent resignation with immediate effect and it wasn’t helped by him being so open about being open to move to an ambitious Championship club.
Reims finally ended a long winless run of form by edging past Olympique de Marseille in midweek with Chancel Mbemba’s 33rd minute own goal enough to separate the two sides. Prior to that slender and fortunate victory, Reims had been winless six matches since the March international break leaving them firmly in the middle-of-the-table.
RENNES PREVIEW: FINISHING WITH A FLOURISH
After a very slow start to the season, Stade Rennais decided to part company with former Olympique Lyonnais boss Bruno Genesio to replace him with returning manager Julian Stephan. Things did improve for Rennes but a mid-spring slump means they are set to finish firmly in the middle-of-the-table this season.
Rennes are finishing with something of a flourish, though, as they come into this one on the back of one loss in their last four matches. They come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Lens at Roazhan Park. Angelo Fulgini gave Lens a 48th minute lead in that match before Ibrahim Salah equalised in the 82nd minute.
REIMS TEAM NEWS: NO NEW ISSUES FOR REIMS
There are still a few injury issues for Reims this weekend as they welcome Rennes. They are without Kenya international defender Joseph Okumu for this final day as well as former Ajax attacker Mohamed Daramy.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Diouf; Kone, Agbadou, Abdelhamid, Akieme; Kone, Munetsi; Ito, Teuma, Nakamura; Diakite
UNAVAILABLE: Atangana (Injured), Okumu (Injured), Daramy (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES TEAM NEWS: KALIMUENDO SUSPENDED
There is only one availability issue for this weekend’s trip to Reims. Former Paris Saint-Germain attacker Armand Kalimuendo is a key man for Rennes but he is unavailable for the final day due to suspension.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mandanda; Seidu, Wooh, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Le Fee, Santamaria, Doue; Gouiri, Blas
UNAVAILABLE: Kalimuendo (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
REIMS VS RENNES PREDICTION
Will Still had intended to implement a fluent and front foot, progressive style of football with Reims and there have been times where that has been the case and the ownership will still want that to be the focus so this is a good chance to send themselves off into the off season on the back of that sort of performance. Rennes have been one of the more entertaining teams to watch in the whole of Ligue 1 so a high-scoring encounter seems quite likely.
REIMS VS RENNES TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
