Sunday’s Ligue 1 action begins with Rennes (5th, 50 pts) looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats when they host Lorient (15th, 39 pts) at Roazhon Park with kickoff at 2 pm.
Rennes would always be fighting an uphill battle to finish in the top three if they failed to beat Monaco and Strasbourg since even a win only would have seen them draw level with their opponents.
However, after the disappointment of their surprise defeat against lowly Sochaux last weekend, defeat against reasonable opposition was not what Rennes’ supporters wanted to see.
Yet despite falling behind so early on against a strong Nancy side, Rennes fought back well, scoring a deserved equalizer. Before being undone in the 77th minute, Ajorque scored from close range in a match that Rennes could have won but for some poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Nancy’s Mickael Landreau.
Sunday’s clash between Lorient and Marseille will see the hosts looking to end a seven-game winless streak at the venue.
The narrow 1-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Metz in midweek extended their impressive form of late to four wins in eight games, which has lifted Lorient away from trouble for the time being.
However, there remains work to be done in the final five fixtures of the campaign, with just three points keeping Sunday’s visitors above Saint-Etienne in the relegation playoff spot.
Rennes vs. Lorient Head to Head
Both sides have 27 games against each other, with hosts taking 14 wins while visitors with six wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Strasbourg 2-1 Rennes
- Rennes 2-3 Monaco
- Rennes 2-3 Reims
- Nice 1-1 Rennes
- Rennes 6-1 Metz
Away
- Lorient 1-0 Metz
- Nice 2-1 Lorient
- Lorient 6-2 St. Etienne
- PSG 5-1 Lorient
- Lorient 0-0 Strasbourg
Rennes Team News
Rennes will assess the fitness of four players ahead of Sunday’s game – with goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, Jeremy Doku, Jeremy Gelin, and Kamaldeen Sulemana all absent once again on Wednesday. The return of Gomis – who is nearing a return from a knee injury – could impact whether 19-year-old goalkeeper Dogan Alemdar continues between the posts or not.
Lorient Team News
Stephane Diarra, Jeremy Morel and Thomas Monconduit remain unlikely to return from their respective injuries, although the latter has featured most regularly this season.
Prediction and Odds
Rennes, despite recent setbacks, will be expected to win comfortably against their relegation-threatened visitors on Sunday.
- Rennes Win
- Both Teams to Score
- Goals Over 2.5
