It is a battle of the top two in Group F of this season's Europa League, with French side Rennes hosting Greek giants Panathinaikos at Roazhon Park on Thursday night.
The Ligue 1 club have struggled in their domestic fixtures since the October international break, while Panathinaikos come into this clash following an impressive run of form.
Match preview
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Since a 2-1 victory against Thursday's opponents in Greece on October 26, Rennes have picked up just a single point from their most recent Ligue 1 matches, with their latest clash ending in a disappointing 2-0 loss at the hands of league leaders Nice at Allianz Riviera.
Former Chelsea and Birmingham City man Jeremie Boga opened the scoring for the hosts on Bonfire Night in the first period, and despite showing signs of being able to scrap a result at the home of the pacesetters, Nice secured maximum points late on courtesy of an own goal from goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
Bruno Genesio's men have been faring admirably in the Europa League so far this season, having earned six points from their opening three group-stage matches, with wins over Panathinaikos and Maccabi Haifa helping the French club to the top of the section at the halfway point.
Winning 15 of their 19 Ligue 1 home matches last season, Rennes were a formidable force in front of their own supporters as they clinched a fourth-placed finish, but things have not gone so swimmingly at Roazhon Park in 2023-24, winning only two of their first six home contests.
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On a genuine mission for their first Greek Super League title since 2015, Panathinaikos will momentarily divert their focus to continental matters on Thursday night in Rennes, and Ivan Jovanovic's side will be targeting progression deep into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The Greens are currently top of their domestic standings having amassed a highly-respectable tally of 25 points after 10 games, with the Athens-based club leading the division in terms of offensive (31 goals scored) and defensive (six goals conceded) metrics in the opening months of the term.
Key to Panathinaikos' sensational start to the campaign has been the goalscoring form of Slovenia international Andraz Sporar, who has made the net ripple on four occasions in the Super League during eight appearances, and the 29-year-old was also on target as his side beat Villarreal on matchday one in Europe.
Following a mixed three-year spell at Everton in the Premier League, 14-time Brazil international Bernard is ageing like a fine wine in Athens, and the 31-year-old will be aiming to provide ample services for the likes of Sporar and former Southampton loanee Filip Djuricic in France.
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Team News
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Rennes are expected to make a couple of changes from the XI which was unable to tarnish Nice's unbeaten status on Sunday, although Warmed Omari should continue to partner Jeanuel Belocian in the backline.
With the aforementioned centre-back pairing averaging just over 22 years, former Manchester United and Chelsea enforcer Nemanja Matic provides plenty of know-how and experience in the hosts' engine room.
Panathinaikos have been hit by a huge fitness issue in the first months of the term, with Icelandic defender Hordur Magnusson set to miss the remainder of the campaign due to a cruciate ligament injury.
After playing against Rennes during his two-year loan spell at Troyes, Erik Palmer-Brown was hoping to face some familiar foes on Thursday night, but the American is a doubt and has not featured in a competitive fixture since September.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Belocian, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Matic, Le Fee, Terrier; Blas, Gouiri
Panathinaikos possible starting lineup:
Brignoli; Vagiannidis, Schenkeveld, Jedvaj, Mladenovic; Cerin, Arao, Mancini, Djuricic, Bernard; Sporar
We say: Rennes 2-1 Panathinaikos
Rennes have struggled to live up to the standards they set last season, but Genesio's men are still in a brilliant position to qualify into the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Panathinaikos have enjoyed an impressive run of results domestically, but we feel the Greek Super League leaders will be slightly outclassed at Roazhon Park on Thursday.
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