Lorient vs Rennes Preview: Team News & Prediction
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As a part of the Bill Foley ownership group, Lorient will be expected to kick on in Ligue 1 this season, but they began with a defeat as they now take on Stade Rennais this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Lorient preview: Impressive off the pitch
Following their promotion back to the top-flight last season as Ligue 2 champions, Lorient have an impressive operation off the pitch and they should be expected to comfortably survive and even kick on into the middle-of-the-table this season.
The home team did, though, begin their 2025/26 Ligue 1 season with a slender 1-0 loss to Auxerre at Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps last weekend, with Lassine Sinayoko scoring the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute of the match.
Rennes preview: Rennes start with a win
Stade Rennais endured a difficult campaign last season with both Julian Stephan and Jorge Sampaoli sacked before the appointment of Habib Beye and their eventual easing away from the bottom three and the relegation places in the French top-flight.
Rennes did manage to defeat Olympique de Marseille on the opening day last week, despite Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal being sent off after half an hour. Ludovic Blas scored the only goal of the game at Roazhon Park in second-half stoppage-time.
Lorient team news: Nothing fresh
There is nothing fresh for Lorient to deal with as defender Isaak Toure remains sidelined, whilst both Noah Cadiou and Bandiougou Fadiga are doubts for the home team.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Kamara; Mendy, Talbi, Igor Silva; Mvuka, Avom, Abergel, Kouassi; Aiyegun, Bamba, Pagis
Unavailable: Toure (Injured)
Questionable: Cadiou (Injured), Fadiga (Injured)
Rennes team news: Defensive issues
Rennes now have defensive issues with Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal now missing through suspension, whilst both Lilian Brassier and Mikayil Faye injury doubts for Rennes.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Samba; Wooh, Jacques, Rouault; Frankowski, Rieder, Rongier, Fofana, Merlin; Blas, Meite
Unavailable: Ait Boudlal (Suspended)
Questionable: Brassier (Injured), Faye (Injured)
Lorient vs Rennes prediction
Lorient have a defensive setup and they have an emerging talent and squad. They will be expected to grow into the campaign, and the only trap is perhaps they become too defensive and sit back too much early on. Rennes will head across to Lorient with a lot of confidence after last weekend but Beye has proven himself to be a defensive and reactive coach, so a low-scoring encounter is to be expected for this one.
Lorient vs Rennes tip: Under 2.5 goals
