Ligue 1 | Gameweek 26

Mar 15, 2025 at 8.05pm UK

Stade Bollaert-Delelis

Lens vs Rennes

Match preview

A late winner from Neil El Aynaoui at Marseille in week 25 ended Lens' four-game losing streak and prevented Still's side from slipping further down the table.

A point against Roberto De Zerbi's side would have seen Brest leapfrog the eighth-placed side, but El Aynaoui's third successive goal sealed the points for the Blood and Gold's sixth away win of the campaign.

While that success ended a two-game losing streak on the road, Still's men, who boast the third-best away record in the top flight, will be looking to end a similar run of defeats in front of their home fans.

The home side have lost four of their last five games at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where Lens have taken 14 points from 12 games this season, bettering only five other clubs: Nantes (13), Montpellier HSC (12), Angers (10), Reims (10) and Le Havre (seven).

The Sang et Or's underwhelming run of results has been exacerbated by their 13th home game of the season, and they will be looking to improve on that in the closing weeks of the 2024-25 campaign to boost their chances of overtaking Lyon, who they trail by six points.

Although their form this season in front of their home fans suggests that beating Rennes this weekend will be anything but easy, recent history against Les Rennais suggests that the hosts will at least avoid a seventh home disappointment.

Les Rouge et Noirs have not beaten Lens since a 1-0 success in February 2015, while their current nine-game winless streak in this fixture is testament to their inferiority in the rivalry.

The club's dismal away record casts further doubt on this weekend's prospects, although eagle-eyed observers will note that two of Rennes' away victories in 24-25 came on recent visits to Saint-Etienne (2-0) and Montpellier (4-0).

Both victories followed a miserable nine-game run without a point away from home, during which the Red and Black lost eight of their matches.

Since Habib Beye replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the end of January, however, the tide has turned and the Rennais are looking to record three away wins in a row for the first time in a year, with wins at Clermont (3-1), Lyon (3-2) and Le Havre (1-0) between December 2023 and February 2024.

Optimistic supporters will believe their side have a chance of matching that feat and ending a 10-year wait for success at Lens, given Rennes' resurgence since Beye took over, with the Reds winning four of their last six Ligue 1 games.

And with those results potentially taking the 12th-placed side out of the relegation conversation - Beye's men are eight points clear of Le Havre in the relegation play-offs and nine above the bottom two - finishing as high as possible could be the ambition in the final weeks of the campaign.

Recent Performance

Lens Ligue 1 form:WLLLLW

Rennes Ligue 1 form:WWLWWL

Team News

Remy Lascary and Martin Satriano are not expected back until next season with serious knee injuries, while the trio of Denis Petric (back), Herve Koffi (hamstring) and Jhoanner Chavez (ankle) are close to returning.

Despite leading the way with six goals this season, M'Bala Nzola, who returns from suspension this weekend, trails Adrien Thomasson in terms of match-winners (two), although no one has equalled the striker's three openers.

Seko Fofana is suspended against his former club, while Rennes are without Alidu Seidu (knee) and Andres Gomez (ankle) through injury.

Only four players - Ousmane Dembele (20 goals), Mason Greenwood (15), Jonathan David (14) and Bradley Barcola (13) - have scored more goals than Arnaud Kalimuendo (11) this season, and the striker, who has scored five game-winners in 24-25 matches, will be looking to do the same this weekend.

Possible starting lineup

Lens possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Aguilar, Gradit, Sarr, Medina; Aynaoui, Diouf; Sotoca, Thomasson, Zaraoury; Said

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Samba; Jacquet, Rouault, Brassier; Assignon, James, Cisse, Kone, Truffert; Blas, Kalimuendo