Rennes vs Lens Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 French Ligue 1
THE FACTS
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When is Rennes vs Lens on and what time does it start? Rennes vs Lens will take place on Friday 19th May, 2023 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Rennes vs Lens? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Rennes vs Lens on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Rennes vs Lens
Where can I stream Rennes vs Lens in the UK? If Rennes vs Lens is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
RENNES
During the November international break, Stade Rennais decided to part company with former Olympique Lyonnais boss Bruno Genesio and replace him with former manager Julian Stephan. Stephan has instilled a more proactive style of football but Rennes are in danger of finishing this season with a bit of a whimper.
They do, though, come into this one on the back of a thrilling victory at Stade Saint-Symphorien against struggling Metz last weekend. Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring for Metz before Amine Gouiri equalised. Papa Amadou Diallo made it 2-1 before half-time before Benjamin Bourigeaud and Armand Kalimuendo turned the game on its head.
LENS
Coached by Franck Haise, Lens begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting just outside of the top five and the automatic European spots in Ligue 1. They started the season really poorly after a slow-ish start to the campaign but have since majorly improved as they recover from the sales of both Seko Fofana and Lois Openda.
The northerners come into this one on the back of a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Lorient last weekend with second-half goals from Elye Wahi and David da Costa. They have been really inconsistent in the last month or so with two victories, two defeats and one draw in their last five matches since they drifted away from the European spots.
THE TEAM NEWS
RENNES
There are a couple of suspension issues for this weekend’s visit of Lens as midfielder Azor Matusiwa and attacker Martin Terrier are both unavailable for the hosts.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Mandanda; Seidu, Wooh, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, D. Doue, Blas; Kalimuendo, Gouiri
UNAVAILABLE: Matusiwa (Suspended), Terrier (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
LENS
Elye Wahi is missing through suspension for Lens this weekend, whilst the likes of Kevin Danso, Jimmy Cabot, Jhoanner Chavez and Neil El Aynaoui are all injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Samba; Aguilar, Gradit, Medina; Frankowski, Mendy, Costa, Machado; Sotoca, Fulgini; Guilavogui
UNAVAILABLE: Wahi (Suspended), Danso (Injured), El Aynaoui (Injured), Chavez (Injured), Cabot (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Both of these sides entered into the season on the back of big money sales with both Openda and Fofana leaving Lens and Rennes having to sell Lovro Majer and Jeremy Doku. They are two proactive teams that therefore had to deal with easing their way and gelling back together as a team and both will be extremely frustrated with their general inconsistency. Neither side have been overly fluent either and that lack of cohesion means it may not be a thriller for the neutral for this one.
TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS
