Rennes and Aston Villa will conclude their pre-season preparations with a friendly clash against each other at Roazhon Park on Saturday.
The visitors are yet to lose any of their warm-up matches, while the hosts are looking to claim their third successive victory ahead of the new campaign.
Match preview
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After losing their opening pre-season fixture 1-0 away to Freiburg, Rennes have since secured back-to-back victories against Caen and Nantes.
A 2-1 away win against Caen last Wednesday was followed by a slender 1-0 victory over Nantes a week later, with Serhou Guirassy heading home the only goal of the game four minutes after half time.
Bruno Genesio's side finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season with more victories (20) and more points (66) than in any of their previous top-flight campaigns. Les Rouge et Noir will be aiming to qualify for the Champions League this term, through either their league position or by going all the way in the Europa League, after narrowly missing out last season.
Rennes are familiar with English opposition after facing both Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City in the Europa Conference League in 2021-22. They had mixed success from their three games played, however, firstly drawing 2-2 with Spurs in the group stage before losing 3-2 on aggregate to Leicester in the last 16.
Saturday's friendly clash against Villa will be their final warm-up match before beginning the new Ligue 1 season at home to Lorient on August 7.
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Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will have been pleased with his side's performances so far in pre-season, as they have claimed three victories and a draw from their first four matches.
After securing wins against Walsall, Leeds United and Brisbane Roar without conceding, the Villans came from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in the final game on their tour of Australia last weekend.
A strike from Jadon Sancho and an own goal from Matty Cash put the Red Devils two goals in front at half time, but Villa responded well in the second half with Leon Bailey's 49th-minute strike followed by a 93rd-minute equaliser from Calum Chambers.
In a bid to improve on last season's 14th-placed finish in the Premier League, Gerrard has been active in the transfer market, recruiting Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen on permanent deals as well as adding Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Ludwig Augustinsson to his ranks.
Villa will be keen to build their positive momentum with one more victory against Rennes before their Premier League opener away at newly-promoted Bournemouth on August 6.
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Team News
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Rennes boss Genesio is short of options at centre-back following the sale of Nayef Aguerd to West Ham United and the injury sustained to Warmed Omari, meaning that teenagers Guela Doue and Noah Francoise could be handed starts again in the heart of the defence.
Martin Terrier, who scored 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games last season, featured for the final half-an-hour last time out but will be hoping to return to the first XI this weekend.
The likes of Lovro Majer, Hamari Traore, Benjamin Bourigeaud and Kamaldeen Sulemana are all set to get minutes under their belts ahead of the new campaign.
As for Aston Villa, Gerrard named a strong side in the draw with Man United and could select a similar starting lineup this weekend.
John McGinn, who has been confirmed as the club's new captain, could retain his place in centre-midfield along with Jacob Ramsey and summer signing Kamara, while Coutinho and Ollie Watkins are expected to operate in the final third.
Bailey will be hoping to force his way into the first XI after getting his name on the scoresheet last time out, while Chambers, Emiliano Buendia and Ezri Konsa will also be pushing to start after beginning on the bench against the Red Devils.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Alemdar; Traore, Doue, Francoise, Meling; Santamaria, Tait; Bourigeaud, Majer, Terrier; Laborde
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Mings, Digne; Kamara; McGinn, Ramsey; Coutinho; Watkins, Ings
We say: Rennes 1-2 Aston Villa
Both sides will fancy their chances of coming out on top this weekend, but with Rennes lacking experience at the back, Villa are likely to cause problems in the final third.
The visitors have already scored an average of two goals per game so far this summer and we can see them netting at least a couple more at Roazhon Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
