Both fresh from their two-week break during the international pause, Rennes and Montpellier HSC will lock horns at Roazhon Park for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon.
Les Rennais suffered a defeat in their final match before the break, and the same can be said of La Paillade, who endured a difficult afternoon on home soil.
Match preview
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Rennes have endured a mixed bag of results during the opening three weekends of the 2024-25 Ligue 1 campaign, securing a three-goal success over Lyon on the first day of the season, before suffering back-to-back away defeats at Strasbourg and Reims prior to the international break.
Looking to start their September schedule on a positive note, Les Rennais made the trip to Stade Auguste-Delaune, where the visitors fired themselves into a first-half lead courtesy of Leo Ostigard's effort, but quickfire goals from Junya Ito and Oumar Diakite secured maximum points for the hosts.
After the collection of three points from their opening three Ligue 1 contests of the fresh term, Rennes are currently occupying 11th position in the top-flight standings, already six points behind first-placed Paris Saint-Germain, who are overwhelming favourites to take the French crown once again.
A former Parisiens youngster, Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga enjoyed his best-ever goalscoring campaign last season in the colours of Les Rennais - netting 15 across all competitions - with the attacker now tasked with firing his side back into European contention following a 10th-placed finish in 2023-24.
![Jordan Ferri (12) of Montpellier HSC during the friendly match between Girona FC and Montpellier HSC played at the Royalverd Training Center sports facilities, July 20 ,2024[on July 25, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/jordan-ferri.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jordan Ferri (12) of Montpellier HSC during the friendly match between Girona FC and Montpellier HSC played at the Royalverd Training Center sports facilities, July 20 ,2024[on July 25, 2024]")
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After three straight mid-table finishes for the club between 2022 and 2024, Montpellier are hoping to avoid a slide towards the relegation dogfight in Ligue 1 during 2024-25, although that quest for success did not start brightly before the September international break.
A share of the spoils at home to fellow strugglers Strasbourg was a respectable result on August 18, however La Paillade have since suffered consecutive defeats, losing to title favourites PSG and Nantes by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1, raising plenty of alarm bells for Sunday's visitors to Rennes.
Looking to surpass his tally of eight Ligue 1 goals last campaign, Akor Adams found the net for Montpellier to momentarily restore parity in the contest with Nantes, however further strikes for the visitors from Moses Simon and substitute Mostafa Mohamed sealed three points for the visitors.
Heading into the remainder of the September schedule, La Paillade are one of four sides in Ligue 1 who are yet to enjoy their maiden victory of the 2024-25 campaign, with Michel Der Zakarian's troops lying in 16th place after earning just a single point from three games.
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Team News
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Rennes are without the services of goalscorer Ostigard this weekend, with the defender picking up his third caution of the term in the loss last time out.
As a result, Les Rennais will require a new face at centre-back, with 20-year-old Mikayil Faye a likely candidate for the role alongside Christopher Wooh.
Montpellier's medical room is still full to the brim following the international break, with Kiki Kouyate sidelined due to a troublesome knee issue.
La Paillade's options at left-back are restricted by the absence of Lucas Mincarelli Davin, who is also struggling with a serious knee compliant.
Fellow full-back Issiaga Sylla joins Davin on the medical bay, meaning that Enzo Tchato is set to play out of position on the left side of the backline for the visitors.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Hateboer, Faye, Wooh, Truffert; Kamara, Matusiwa, Gronbaek, Blas; Gouiri, Kalimuendo-Muinga
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Omeragic, Sagnan, Tchato; Ferri, Nzingoula, Al-Taamari, Savanier, Fayad; Adams
We say: Rennes 2-1 Montpellier HSC
Refreshed following the international break, Rennes will be confident of earning their second win of the season against Montpellier on Sunday.
La Paillade's injury crisis continues into the middle of September, and we cannot envisage a makeshift visiting side collecting any points at Roazhon Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
