After a difficult first quarter of the season, Rennes are back in the top five. A position that was still unexpected just a few weeks ago, made possible by their current run of four consecutive league wins, including two against Strasbourg (4–1) and Monaco (4–1). With only one defeat in their last 12 matches, the Rouge et Noir now have 24 points and are dreaming of making it five in a row against Les Parisiens.
Paris, for their part, will be looking to react after last week’s narrow defeat away to Monaco (1–0). Before that, the club from the capital had put together three straight wins in the league, against Nice (1–0), Lyon (2–3) and more recently Le Havre (3–0). For the last time this year, the Rouge et Bleu will play in front of their supporters this Saturday: the perfect opportunity to return to winning ways?
3 – Having provided an assist last week, Breel Embolo has been involved in at least one goal in each of his last three league matches.
4 – Bradley Barcola has scored 4 goals against Rennes in Ligue 1, his joint-highest tally against a single opponent in his career, along with Lens.
12 – In November, Stade Rennais FC boasted the joint-best record in Ligue 1 alongside Lens (12 points, 10 goals scored and 2 conceded for both teams).
39 – Paris Saint-Germain have scored in each of their last 39 home league matches and could, against SRFC, become the tenth team to do so in 40 consecutive top-flight home games.
In goal, Habib Beye will once again rely on Brice Samba, a true cornerstone of the Breton side. The French international should be supported in front of him by Lilian Brassier, who returned to his boyhood club earlier this year, and Jérémy Jacquet, also a product of the Rouge et Noir academy. Despite his young age (20), the French U21 international has established himself as the defensive leader of the team, and he is expected to be partnered by newly capped Moroccan international Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, who has been in excellent form in recent weeks and is now preferred over Anthony Rouault.
At full-back, former Lens man Przemysław Frankowski is expected to feature on the right flank. The Polish international could therefore be chosen ahead of Alidu Seidu, who is also capable of playing in central defence. On the opposite side, Quentin Merlin is, of course, the favourite, though the successful repositioning of forward Mousa Tamari in this role could change the situation. In midfield, Valentin Rongier will certainly be expected to start, having recently been handed the captain’s armband.
Alongside him, another new signing continues to grow in stature: Mahdi Camara. The former Brest player has taken advantage of Glen Kamara’s difficult adaptation, with the Finnish international being used sparingly by the Rennes staff. The question now is who will take the third starting spot in a Rennes midfield where Djaoui Cissé has recently been picking up playing time, though the return of Seko Fofana could make the French U21 international’s inclusion a doubt.
Finally, in attack, the Estéban Lepaul–Breel Embolo partnership is working wonderfully and has come to symbolise the revival of the Breton side in recent weeks. A productive duo that is likely to be retained against Les Parisiens, which would once again leave Ludovic Blas starting on the bench. As for Kader Meïté, the young French prodigy (18 years old) may well make an appearance during the match at the Parc.
