Rennes will resume their quest for European football when they face already-relegated Ajaccio at the Stade Francois Coty on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors find themselves one point shy of the top five ahead of the weekend's action, while the hosts are heading for an immediate return to Ligue 2.
Match preview
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Ajaccio's inevitable relegation was finally confirmed last weekend as Olivier Pantaloni's men suffered a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, with a Kylian Mbappe brace and a Thomas Mangani red card helping the champions elect secure a comprehensive victory.
Of course, it was always going to be difficult for Ajaccio to avoid the relegation battle after gaining promotion last year, but the Bears are going down with a whimper, having failed to win any of their previous 10 matches.
Not only have Ajaccio failed to score in each of their last four games, but they have also failed to find the back of the net in 14 of their previous 19 league encounters, suffering 15 defeats along the way.
When you look at the bigger picture, the Bears have bagged a measly 22 goals in 35 Ligue 1 matches this season, making them the division's lowest scorers by a considerable margin, so it is easy to understand why they are heading back to Ligue 2.
Having claimed a solitary victory in their previous 14 outings – taking five points from a possible 42 since a narrow 2-1 win over bottom club Angers back in February – Ajaccio's comeback campaign is petering out in disappointing fashion.
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By contrast, Rennes still have a lot to play for in the final three games of the season, as the Brittany outfit find themselves one point outside the European places following last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of second-from-bottom Troyes, who sit one point below Ajaccio in the standings.
In fact, Les Rennais could finish as high as fourth if they win their remaining matches and results elsewhere go in their favour, Bruno Genesio's men will be eager to claim all three points this weekend to keep the pressure on the teams above.
There is no hiding the fact that Rennes have been wildly inconsistent in recent months, recording a solitary draw in 21 league games since November, with 10 wins and 10 losses coming during that period.
Although Rennes have won four of their last eight matches – scoring 13 goals across those victories while dispatching PSG for good measure – they have also suffered four defeats while scoring just twice across those losses.
Given the team's inconsistency over the past few months, predicting the outcome of an SRFC game has become something of a lottery in recent times, but a clash with lowly Ajaccio provides Genesio's men with the ideal opportunity to notch back-to-back wins.
Team News
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Ajaccio midfielder Thomas Mangani will miss Sunday's clash through suspension after picking up a red card last time out, so Riad Nouri is expected to come into the hosts' starting XI.
The Bears also have multiple players sidelined due to injury, with Youcef Belaili, Jean Botue, Yanis Cimignani, Oumar Gonzalez and Ruan Levine all expected to miss the visit of Rennes.
Mounaim El Idrissy will continue to lead the line for Ajaccio, while Mickael Barreto and Kevin Spadanuda are expected to occupy the wide attacking areas.
In fairness, Rennes have plenty of injury problems of their own, as Tottenham Hotspur loanee Djed Spence remains in the treatment room along with Martin Terrier, Adrien Truffert and Xeka.
After bagging a brace in last weekend's thrashing of Troyes, Karl Toko Ekambi will continue in attack, while top scorer Amine Gouiri will aim to enhance his tally of 13 goals and seven assists.
Having racked up six goals and 11 assists this term, Benjamin Bourigeaud will also retain his place in Rennes' starting lineup, with veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda returning between the sticks.
Ajaccio possible starting lineup:
Sollacaro; Youssouf, Avinel, Vidal, Ismael; Marchetti, Coutadeur, Nouri; Barreto, El Idrissy, Spadanuda
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandana; Traore, Omari, Theate, Belocian; Santamaria; Doku, Bourigeaud, Majer, Gouiri; Toko Ekambi
We say: Ajaccio 0-3 Rennes
While struggling Ajaccio have failed to score in eight of their last 10 matches, European-chasing Rennes have netted nine goals across their previous three outings.
For that reason, we can see the visitors cruising to a comfortable victory in Corsica, with the hosts expected to fire a fifth successive blank.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Morris
