Rennes VS Lorient, Rennes win

Match Time：2/4/2021 02:00 Thursday  (GMT+8)

France Ligue 1 --  Rennes   VS   Lorient

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After Lorient's most recent result brought Ligue 1 to a standstill, the Breton club now travel to Rennes on Wednesday looking to register three wins on the spin.  The fifth-placed hosts, meanwhile, lost their last outing 1-0 at home to new leaders Lille, finally breaking a seven-match unbeaten streak.  

 

Match preview 

A dramatic final twist in Lorient's action-packed 3-2 win against PSG last weekend saw Nigerian striker Terem Moffi stride clear of the Parisians' defence as Mauricio Pochettino's side pushed for a late winning goal, to settle the game in style - against all the pre-match odds.   

 

Remarkably, that goal was their second injury-time winner in just a matter of days - after they defeated fellow strugglers Dijon by the same scoreline earlier last week - and served to elevate Christophe Pelissier's men above the Burgundy outfit. Having returned to action for the first time since a devastating COVID-19 outbreak, Lorient now seem to have a new lease of life.  

 

Up to a still-precarious 18th place, but glowing from their limelight-grabbing success - achieved despite the concession of two penalties, both converted by Neymar - Les Merlus are now set on inching out of the drop zone by taking a first step towards improving a woeful away record.  

 

Lorient have proved easy meat for opponents when on the road this season, having posted only two draws and just one win in 10 trips so far. Currently on a six-match winless streak away, they have failed to win outside of their Breton base since October, against Reims.  

 

Certainly, Pelissier will hope that his side's recent burst of goals can continue on Wednesday, as their forward line had previously underwhelmed this season. Only Yoane Wissa, match-winning hero Moffi and Pierre-Yves Hamel have made contributions of note so far, netting six, five and four times respectively.   

 

Despite dominating possession at Roazhon Park last Saturday, Rennes were unable to find an equaliser to Jonathan David's early goal for Ligue 1 leaders Lille, who subsequently deposed PSG at the top of the table.  

 

It brought to an end a stabilising spell of form for Julien Stephan's side, as they had turned their fortunes around since an abysmal winless run in late autumn. 

 

Nonetheless, with a game in hand, they remain within sight of the Champions League qualification places, but will need all their main men fully firing in the upcoming weeks.   

 

One such star, France international Eduardo Camavinga, claimed in recent days to be "100% focused on the club" despite a change of agent to Gareth Bale's media mouthpiece Jonathan Barnett. 

 

Though Camavinga has a contract which runs until June 2022, he has scored only once and provided just two assists in 23 appearances at club level during the 2020-21 campaign, leading to talk of being distracted by rumours of a move to Real Madrid.  The gifted midfielder can prove his stated dedication in midweek, by helping Rennes to improve a record of just five wins and four losses from 11 home contests in Ligue 1 this term.  

 

His side emerged victorious when these two sides last met, at Stade du Moustoir in December. That 3-0 win for Les Rouge et Noir should serve as a template for bringing a rejuvenated Lorient XI back down to earth with a bang.  

 

Rennes Ligue 1 form: WWDDWL  

Lorient Ligue 1 form: LDLLWW  

 

Team News  

Apart from the injured Flavien Tait and ill M'Baye Niang - who has been strongly linked with a return to Serie A - home manager Julien Stephan has a full hand to pick from.  

 

Clement Grenier has thrived in support of striker Martin Terrier in recent times, with the pair likely to continue despite drawing a blank last time out.  

 

Like Niang, on-loan Juventus defender Daniele Rugani could head back to Italy due to lack of playing time, as Gerzino Nyamsi and Nayef Aguerd are set to continue in the centre of Stephan's back four.  

 

Most of Lorient's contingent affected by COVID-19 returned to action last week, but Paul Nardi and Vincent Le Goff are still recovering from the after-effects of the virus, so their involvement on Wednesday is uncertain.  

 

As Christophe Pelissier must assess whether his returning players are ready for another 90 minutes so soon, he may rotate - with Trevoh Chalobah and Terem Moffi both in contention to make the starting lineup.  

 

Quentin Boisgard is out with a groin strain for the visitors, while Stephane Diarra (knee) and Thomas Fontaine (achilles) remain unavailable too. 

 

Rennes possible starting lineup: 

Salin; Traore, Nyamsi, Aguerd, Maouassa; Truffert, Nzonzi, Camavinga, Doku; Grenier; Terrier  

 

Lorient possible starting lineup: 

Dreyer; Delaplace, Laporte, Gravillon, Morel; Lauriente, Le Fee, Chalobah, Wissa; Hamel, Moffi    

 

Rennes 2-1 Lorient