Aiming to record three-straight victories for the first time since January, Champions League-chasing Lille will welcome Rennes to Decathlon Arena for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon.
Les Dogues were handsome winners on the continent during the week to boost their chances of European progression, whilst Les Rouges et Noirs have been afforded seven days to dwell on last weekend's defeat to Lorient.
Match preview
© Reuters
Travelling to Austria on Thursday night, Lille extended their unbeaten run in the Europa Conference League to seven matches by comfortably beating Sturm Graz 3-0 at Merkur Arena, all but sealing Les Dogues' progression into the quarter-finals of the competition next month.
Paulo Fonseca's men were completely dominant on the road in the first-leg clash and secured the goals to make that fact clear to see, with Jonathan David netting either side of the half-time interval, before Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova got onto the scoresheet late on.
With next Thursday's second leg at the Decathlon Arena set to be a stress-free affair, Lille can fully focus on the visit of Rennes on Sunday and keeping their hopes of Champions League qualification alive, with the hosts currently sitting in fourth place, just a single point behind third-placed Monaco.
After a stuttering start to the campaign, Canadian marksman David has netted eight goals in his last seven matches across all competitions, including a hat-trick against Luka Elsner's Le Havre and a brace versus basement dwellers Clermont, who appear destined for the drop.
Les Dogues would be challenging Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title if the table was decided purely on home form, with Fonseca's charges losing just one match at the Decathlon Arena this season, collecting 26 points from 11 games - only the league-leading Parisiens (27) can better that tally.
© Reuters
In what has been largely perceived as a huge missed opportunity in the race for a European berth next season, Rennes suffered a 2-1 defeat to rivals Lorient in the Breton derby last weekend, with the hosts at Roazhon Park unable to convert their dominance into three points last time out.
Continuing his frighteningly-impressive goalscoring form, Mohamed Bamba put Les Merlus in front before Elie Kroupi doubled the visitors' advantage in added-on time, meaning that Amine Gouiri's fifth league strike of the term was a mere consolation for Les Rouges et Noirs against their local rivals.
Attempting to manage expectations, Rennes boss Julien Stephan has insisted that last weekend's loss to Lorient was not a wasted chance to boost their continental dreams further, with that defeat representing his side's first since December 9, meaning that an eight-game unbeaten streak came to an end.
After collecting just 12 points from as many matches at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Les Rouges et Noirs have rallied amazingly in recent months, rising to eighth place in the top-flight standings, lying only five points behind fifth-placed Nice with 10 matches left to play.
Despite being dumped out of the Europa League at the hands of Italian giants AC Milan last month, Rennes still have a realistic chance of lifting some silverware before the campaign comes to a close, with Stephan's side facing either PSG or Nice in the Coupe de France semi-finals on April 3.
Team News
© Reuters
After being suspended for Lille's European clash in Austria on Thursday, Nabil Bentaleb is available to return to his side's starting XI on Sunday afternoon.
At just 16 years old, Ayyoub Bouaddi started the win over Sturm Graz last time out, but the youngster is expected to drop to the bench as Bentaleb partners Benjamin Andre in the pivot this weekend.
Remy Cabella received some minutes in the latter stages on Thursday following his return from injury, and the former Newcastle United man could replace Angel Gomes in the engine room at Decathlon Arena.
Rennes remain without the services of influential midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who is targeting a comeback at the end of March from a hamstring injury.
Stephan's options in the middle of the park have been diminished further by the absence of Fabian Rieder, with the 22-year-old currently sidelined due to a foot issue.
After netting late on from the bench last weekend, Algerian Gouiri could be rewarded with a starting berth this time around, possibly at the expense of Ludovic Blas.
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Santos, Diakite, Yoro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Bentaleb; Zhegrova, Cabella, Haraldsson; David
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Seidu, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Santamaria; Gouiri, Terrier, D Doue; Kalimuendo-Muinga
We say: Lille 2-1 Rennes
Lille - alongside leading marksman David - are beginning to hit their stride at a crucial stage of the campaign, so Les Dogues should be confident of collecting three points this weekend.
Rennes face a daunting trip to Decathlon Arena as they strive to bounce back from the derby defeat to Lorient last weekend, and we feel that Stephan's men will be unable to earn a result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
