Rennes will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2023-24 campaign when they travel South to take on Montpellier HSC at the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday afternoon.
The Red and Blacks claimed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League on Thursday, while La Paillade recorded a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg last time out.
Match preview
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Thanks to first-half goals from Wahbi Khazri and Arnaud Nordin, Montpellier appeared to be heading for their second win of the season last weekend, but Michel Der Zakarian's men failed to hold onto their advantage as their hosts scored twice after the break to snatch a share of the spoils.
La Paillade kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Le Havre on the opening weekend before thrashing Lyon 4-1, with Musa Al-Taamari bagging a brace in the rout, but they have since taken one point from a possible nine to remain just outside the bottom three.
Despite racking up 20 shots against Reims on matchday three, Montpellier suffered their first defeat of the campaign as they lost 3-1 on home soil, while the Occitania outfit endured a second successive defeat before the international break, losing 1-0 at Lille.
It is worth noting that only three teams - Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes - have scored more Ligue 1 goals than MHSC's nine this season, but Der Zakarian will be wary of the fact that only three teams have conceded more goals than his side in 2023-24.
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Meanwhile, Rennes kicked off their Europa League campaign in style on Thursday, with Ludovic Blas opening the scoring inside the opening minute via a stunning long-range strike, before Adrien Truffert and Bertug Yildirim found the back of the net to seal the win.
Not only did Les Rennais enjoy the lion's share of possession against Maccabi Haifa, but they also registered 24 shots - 11 of which were on target - while the visitors managed just two attempts on target as they struggled to cope with the hosts' dominant attacking approach.
It is worth remembering, however, that Rennes have drawn each of their last four Ligue 1 matches, scoring five goals while conceding five goals, with stalemates against Lens, Le Havre, Brest and Lille preventing the Red and Blacks from climbing the standings
Still, thanks largely to a 5-1 thrashing of Metz on the opening weekend, Les Rennais find themselves eighth in the Ligue 1 table and remain unbeaten after five games, while only high-flying Monaco have scored more goals than Bruno Genesio's boys in 2023-24.
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Team News
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After missing much of the previous campaign through injury, Montpellier defender Theo Sainte-Luce finds himself on the sidelines once again, meaning that Falaye Sacko, Becir Omeragic, Boubakar Kouyate and Issiaga Sylla should continue in the backline.
Akor Adams will continue to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation, having scored three goals in his first five games for La Paillade, with Arnaud Nordin, Teji Tedy Savanier and Wahbi Khazri operating behind the striker.
As for Rennes, long-term absentee Martin Terrier remains sidelined with an ACL injury, while 21-year-old forward Arnaud Kalimuendo looks set to be absent on Sunday after missing the previous two matches with a muscle issue.
At the ripe old age of 38, veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will continue between the sticks for the visitors, while experienced midfielder Nemanja Matic will be tasked with fueling the engine room, alongside Baptiste Santamaria and Enzo Le Fee.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Omeragic, Kouyate, Sylla; Chotard, Ferri; Nordin, Savanier, Khazri; Adams
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Santamaria, Matic, Le Fee; Bourigeaud, Gouiri, Doue
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-3 Rennes
Given that free-scoring Rennes have netted at least two goals in four of their six matches this season, we expect the visitors to return to winning ways in the league this weekend, extending Montpellier's winless run to four games in the process.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
