Ligue 1 | Gameweek 22

Feb 16, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Roazhon Park

Rennes vs Lille

Match preview

A change of manager at the Stade Rennais has made an immediate impact, with Habib Beye winning his first two games in charge since replacing Jorge Sampaoli.

The former Red Star coach has been able to get his new side to play some solid defensive football, and they have not conceded a goal since his arrival.

Those results have given them some breathing space in the table, as they currently sit six points above Le Havre and the relegation zone, and five points above Saint-Etienne in the relegation play-off.

Another win this weekend would take them to seven clean sheets at Roazhon Park in Ligue 1, matching their tally from the previous campaign.

Rennes have kept four clean sheets in their last seven home games, the same number as in their previous 21 league matches at Roazhon Park.

This weekend, they have the chance to win three successive games in this competition for the first time since December 2023-February 2024 (six).

After a solid start to February, Lille have hit a bit of a rough patch, with a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne followed by defeats to Dunkerque in the Coupe de France (5-4 on penalties) and Le Havre in domestic competition.

Bruno Genesio has not lost consecutive Ligue 1 away games in charge of Lille, although they were beaten 2-1 away to Strasbourg in their last outing.

Les Nordistes have not won a top-flight away game since a 2-0 triumph over Lens in October and have drawn four and lost one away from home since then.

Their away form has prevented them from challenging for a return to the Champions League next season, as they currently sit two points behind Nice and Monaco for a place in the group stage of the competition.

They have won just three of their last 10 games in all competitions, having won five of their previous seven.

Lille are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Rennes but have not beaten them at Roazhon Park since 2023, when they won 3-1.

Recent Performance

Rennes Ligue 1 form:LLLLWW

Rennes form (all competitions):LLLLWW

Lille Ligue 1 form:DDWLWL

Lille form (all competitions):LLWWLL

Team News

Rennes will be without Alidu Seidu and Dogan Alemdar due to cruciate ligament tears, while Anthony Rouault is a doubt with a knock and Azor Matusiwa is out with an illness.

Meanwhile, Hans Hateboer and Jordan James will miss Sunday's game after receiving yellow cards.

Arnaud Kalimuendo and Aboubakar Nagida found the back of the net for the hosts last Saturday to help them to another triumph.

Meanwhile, Lille will be without Edon Zhegrova due to a groin strain, Matias Fernandez-Pardo could return from an ankle injury and Samuel Umtiti could be a doubt with a knee injury.

A cruciate ligament problem will keep Tiago Santos out of this game, but Nabil Bentaleb was cleared to play this week, just over six months after suffering a cardiac arrest during a training session with the team last year.

Chuba Akpom, who joined on loan from Ajax at the end of the winter transfer window, scored his first goal at Lille last weekend, but it came late on with his side 2-0 down.

Possible starting lineup

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Samba; Jacquet, Wooh, Brassier; Assignon, Fofana, Cisse, Truffert; Al-Taamari, Blas; Kalimuendo

Lille possible starting lineup:

Chevalier; Meunier, Mandi, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Gomes; Cabella, Haraldsson, Sahraoui; David