France Ligue 1 - Match Prediction: Rennes VS Dijon

Match Time：4/25/2021 21:00 Sunday  (GMT+8)

France Ligue 1 --  Rennes   VS   Dijon

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Having ended their torrid losing run in inspiring fashion against Nice, Ligue 1 basement side Dijon will hope to pull off another monumental shock at the home of Rennes on Sunday afternoon.

 

Meanwhile, the hosts boosted their European ambitions with an equally impressive 3-0 win over mid-table side Angers last time out.

 

Match preview

It quickly became clear which team had virtually nothing to play for during Angers' battle with Rennes, as Les Scoistes were put to the sword by a Rennes side still harbouring ambitions of another campaign on the continental stage.

 

It took until the 45th minute for Jeremy Doku to open the scoring, but Les Rouge et Noir added further goals in the second half from Martin Terrier and substitute Serhou Guirassy in a resounding 3-0 success at the Stade Raymond Kopa - their second win in succession after a Brittany derby triumph over Nantes.

 

With five games left to play in the 2020-21 campaign, Bruno Genesio has steered Rennes back into the European conversation and they now occupy seventh spot in the table, but fifth-placed Lens remain two points clear and sixth-placed Marseille are enjoying their own spate of successful results.

 

Julian Stephan's departure came as a surprise to some, despite an abysmal run of form before he resigned, but Genesio has now witnessed his Rennes side take 13 points from the last 15 on offer and they have shipped just three goals in their last five matches.

 

Rennes could end gameweek 34 in the top five if Marseille - who play Reims on Friday - and Lens both lose their respective matches, and they should feel confident about their chances of a third consecutive victory despite Dijon's surprise success against Nice.

 

Dijon manager David Linares has affirmed that his side will fight until the end in Ligue 1, and his words clearly seemed to motivate Les Hiboux when Nice paid a visit, as they ended a 12-game losing run in the league by beating Les Aiglons 2-0 at the Stade Gaston Gerard.

 

Fouad Chafik and Yassine Benzia got the goals which propelled Dijon to their first home win of the season, but as impressive as their victory was, it is surely too little too late for Linares's side in their bid to spark a miraculous revival.

 

With just 18 points collected from their 33 games this season, Dijon remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are 14 points adrift of safety, so defeat this weekend would confirm their demotion to the second tier after their victory over Nice just delayed the inevitable.

 

Survival is still mathematically possible, but with Les Hiboux on a seven-game losing streak away from home before they make the journey to the Roazhon Park against an in-form Rennes, their fate should be sealed before the final four games of the season.

 

Dijon did manage to hold Rennes to a 1-1 draw back in October, and Les Rouge et Noir had lost their last two against the relegation candidates before that, but Les Hiboux's hot streak against the European contenders - as well as their stay in Ligue 1 - is expected to come an end this weekend.

 

Rennes Ligue 1 form: LWWDWW

 

Dijon Ligue 1 form: LLLLLW

 

Team News

Rennes' reinvigorated number nine Guirassy will not get the chance to build on his goal against Angers as he sits this game out through suspension, while first-choice centre-backs Nayef Aguerd and Damien Da Silva are also banned for an accumulation of bookings.

 

With Gerzino Nyamsi being the only other recognised centre-back in Genesio's ranks, right-back Brandon Soppy may be forced to fill in alongside him, and Faitout Maouassa is a doubt on the opposite side of defence.

 

Terrier will continue to lead the line in the absence of Guirassy, while Jonas Martin's season is over as he prepares to undergo surgery on an ankle problem.

 

Dijon lost both Mama Balde and Moussa Konate to injury before the win over Nice, but the two strikers are back in the group for this game, and Les Hiboux will also be boosted by the return of Mounir Chouiar from an ankle injury.

 

Didier Ndong and Ngonda Muzinga's returns could leave Dijon with an empty medical room for the weekend, but Rennes loanee Sacha Boey will not play against his parent club.

 

However, Chafik was never likely to lose his place on the right after opening the scoring against Nice, and Linares ought to stick with the same XI from that shock victory.

 

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Gomis; Traore, Soppy, Nyamsi, Truffert; Nzonzi, Camavinga, Tait; Doku, Terrier, Bourigeaud

 

Dijon possible starting lineup:

Allagbe; Chafik, Manga, Panzo, Coulibaly, Chala; Celina, Marie, Benzia; Assale, Kamara

 

Rennes vs Dijon

Rennes 2-0 Dijon