Following a difficult night in the Europa League, Rennes will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Clermont at Roazhon Park on Sunday afternoon in Ligue 1.
Les Rennais were smashed 3-0 by Italian giants AC Milan on Thursday night on the continent, whereas Les Lanciers secured a point in their most recent fixture.
Match preview
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Rennes' impressive nine-game winning run - which stretches all the way back to the middle of December - ended in highly-disappointing fashion on Thursday night in the Europa League, when the French side travelled to Milan and returned with little chance of progressing into the last 16.
During a first leg dominated by AC Milan, two goals either side of the half-time whistle from former England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek and a strike from Rafael Leao means that Les Rennais must overturn a three-goal deficit in the second leg should they wish to advance into the next round.
Focusing now on domestic matters, Julien Stephan's side currently occupy seventh position in the Ligue 1 standings after enjoying an unbeaten streak in the division which dates back to the loss at home to Monaco on December 9, with Rennes sitting just four points behind sixth-placed Lens.
Continuing their good form from last campaign, Benjamin Bourigeaud and Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga lead Les Rennais' Golden Boot race with six and five Ligue 1 goals respectively - only Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Brest have netted more times than Sunday's hosts so far this term.
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Clermont's winless run across all competitions extended to four matches last weekend when they hosted surprise package Brest at Stade Gabriel-Montpied, although it appeared as if the hosts were heading towards another loss which would have placed a lot of pressure on their first-tier status.
A goalless first half proceeded a chaotic second period which included two goals and two red cards, with Grejohn Kyei's second of the Ligue 1 campaign cancelling out an opener from Brest's Pierre Lees-Melou, who is thriving in France since leaving Norwich City in the summer of 2022.
Having won just the single top-tier fixture for over two months, Pascal Gastien's men are languishing at the foot of the Ligue 1 standings, sitting rock bottom of the pile with only 16 points from 21 league contests, three points behind Montpellier in the relative safety of 15th.
Finding the net has been a serious issue for Les Lanciers this term, with Sunday's visitors making the net ripple on just 15 occasions in 21 Ligue 1 games to date, with the club's leading goalscorer Shamar Nicholson only having four strikes on his record after 17 appearances.
Team News
Rennes are expected to be without the services of midfielder Enzo Le Fee, who suffered a hamstring injury earlier this month and is not scheduled to return until March.
Les Rennais will also be unable to call upon the talents of 22-year-old Fabian Rieder, with the Swiss attacker sidelined due to a foot injury.
After receiving his marching orders in the hotly-contested fixture against Brest, Clermont's Elbasan Rashani will miss Sunday's clash due to suspension.
Cheick Oumar Konate was enjoying his maiden run in first-team football picking up an ankle injury in January - the 20-year-old is targeting a return to action later this month.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; G Doue, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Matusiwa, D Doue; Terrier, Kalimuendo-Muinga
Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Pelmard, Matsima, Caufriez, Borges; Gonalons, Gastien, Boutobba, Saracevic, Virginius; Nicholson
We say: Rennes 2-0 Clermont
Rennes endured a difficult evening in Milan on Thursday, but they should be very confident of returning to winning ways against the division's basement dwellers.
Clermont conceded four without laying a glove on Lille during their last Ligue 1 outing, and we are expecting a similar story for Les Lanciers at Roazhon Park on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
