Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Reims and Rennes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Looking to record their first victory of the new campaign, Reims will welcome Rennes to Stade Auguste-Delaune for an all-important Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon.
Les Rouges et Blancs managed a respectable point at the home of Marseille last time out, whilst Les Rennais suffered defeat during their first away trip of the season.
Match preview
© Imago
After finishing ninth in the Ligue 1 standings at the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign - the club's best placement since 2020 - Reims are now on a mission to return to competing in the upper echelons of French football, although that quest has not started off smoothly so far.
Les Rouges et Blancs suffered a sobering 2-0 defeat to Jonathan David and Lille on the opening weekend of the season, when an early red card for Amadou Kone had the hosts up against it at Stade Auguste-Delaune, where Bafode Diakite and Canadian marksman David made the net ripple.
Last weekend saw Reims travel to the South Coast to face Marseille, with second-half strikes from left-back Sergio Akieme and midfielder Yaya Fofana forcing a share of the points at Orange Velodrome against a home side who boasted the likes of Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Following their collection of a single point from their first two Ligue 1 fixtures of the campaign, Les Rouges et Blancs are currently occupying 13th place in the very early top-flight standings, with a victory on Sunday potentially enough to allow them to leapfrog Rennes into the top half.
© Reuters
Placing one position and one point below Reims at the end of last season's 34-game Ligue 1 schedule, Rennes have earmarked the 2024-25 term as one for vast improvements, with Sunday's visitors aiming to rise towards the summit of the division and qualification for European football once again.
Les Rennais were one of the biggest winners across the opening weekend of the top-tier campaign on August 18, when goals from winger Benjamin Bourigeaud, Amine Gouiri and substitute Henrik Meister secured a comfortable three-goal success over Pierre Sage's struggling Lyon side.
Following the excitement of an opening-weekend victory, Rennes were brought back down to Earth by their maiden away outing of the season, in which they were convincingly defeated 3-1 at the home of Strasbourg, who snatched the lead through Andrey Santos early on and never looked back.
Rennes will be hoping they can break the recent trend of matches between the two sides on Sunday afternoon, with each of the last four meetings between the Les Rouges et Blancs and Les Rennais resulting in a home victory, including Reims' 2-1 win in this exact fixture back in May.
Reims Ligue 1 form:
- L
- D
Rennes Ligue 1 form:
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Reims are battling on at the start of the season without the services of Teddy Teuma, who is currently in the medical room due to a back injury.
Les Rouges et Blancs' creative options at further limited by the absence of Mohamed Daramy, with the 22-year-old Dane expected back some time in September from a knee issue.
After seeing red early on in the defeat to Lille, Kone is suspended for this weekend's clash, meaning that Reims' engine room will need a new face.
Joining from Barcelona's academy earlier this week, Mikayil Faye could make his debut for Rennes as they travel to the home of Reims on Sunday.
Starting on the bench last time out, Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga could be promoted to the first XI as Les Rennais aim to improve on their loss at Strasbourg last weekend.
Reims possible starting lineup:
Diouf; Sangui, Okumu, Agbadou, Akieme; Edoa, Fofana, Munetsi; Ito, Nakamura, Diakite
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Ostigard, Wooh, Seidu; Kamara, Matusiwa, Truffert, Gronbaek; Kalimuendo-Muinga, Blas
We say: Reims 2-1 Rennes
Following a worrying loss to Lille on the opening day, Reims managed a decent point at Marseille, so Sunday's hosts should be confident of building on their positive momentum against Rennes.
Les Rennais struggled at Strasbourg last weekend, and we can envisage a similar narrative for the visitors this time around, resulting in another defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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