Preview: Rennes vs. Lens - prediction, team news, lineups

Fifth-placed Rennes trail third-placed Lens by seven points in the Ligue 1 table, while both clubs have aspirations of playing Champions League football next season.

Match preview

Karl Toko Ekambi and Arnaud Kalimuendo grabbed the goals as Rennes secured a hugely impressive 2-0 victory over PSG last time out, putting the perennial Ligue 1 champions to the sword at the Parc des Princes.

The Black and Reds have now won three of their last five league games, keeping four clean sheets in the process, with a narrow defeat to Marseille and a goalless draw with Auxerre preceding the triumph over PSG.

Although Rennes have lost two of their previous three home league matches, they have won 11 of their 13 clashes at Roazhon Park this season, giving them the third-best home record in the division.

Funnily enough, Lens are the only club to have conceded fewer home goals than Rennes' 11 this term, while Bruno Genesio's men have kept six clean sheets in their past 11 home league games.

Having notched a solitary draw across their previous 14 Ligue 1 clashes - recording seven wins and six defeats along the way - Rennes' all-or-nothing approach has kept them within touching distance of the European places.

Lens cemented their status as Champions League chasers with a couple of big victories in the lead-up to the international break, thrashing Clermont Foot 4-0 before defeating Angers 3-0.

As a result, Franck Haise's side find themselves two points behind second-placed Marseille, while the gap to table-topping PSG stands at nine points following the Parisians' defeat to Rennes.

After losing just one of their opening 10 league outings this term, the Blood and Gold chalked up a 10-game unbeaten streak between October and January to give themselves a strong chance of securing European football.

A subsequent four-match winless run threatened to derail their campaign, but Lens have turned things around since then, taking 11 points from a possible 15 to reignite their season.

Although Haise's men have managed to win just four of their 14 away league outings in 2022-23, they have only suffered two defeats on the road, with eight draws keeping them upwardly mobile.

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

L

W

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L

D

W

Rennes form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

D

W

Lens Ligue 1 form:

L

W

D

D

W

W

Lens form (all competitions):

W

D

L

D

W

W

Team News

Rennes defender Adrien Truffert was forced off after five minutes against PSG last time out, so Birger Meling is expected to deputise for Truffert this weekend.

The hosts will also be without the injured quartet of Jeremy Doku (hamstring), Lorenz Assignon (knee), Martin Terrier (knee) and Xeka (ankle) for Saturday's showdown.

Tottenham Hotspur loanee Djed Spence will continue to operate at right-back, while former PSG youngster Arnaud Kalimuendo will continue to lead the line for the Black and Reds.

Lens currently have five players sidelined due to knee injuries, with Jimmy Cabot, Wuilker Farinez, Facundo Medina, Wesley Said and Steven Fortes all expected to miss the trip to Rennes.

Adam Buksa also remains absent for the Blood and Gold, as the Poland international made only four substitute appearances for the club before sustaining a nasty ankle injury last year.

Fresh from receiving a maiden call-up to the France squad, goalkeeper Brice Samba will aim to keep a 12th league clean sheet of the campaign this weekend.

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Spence, Omari, Wooh, Theate, Meling; Doue, Bourigeaud, Ugochukwu, Toko Ekabmi; Kalimuendo

Lens possible starting lineup:

Samba; Frankowski, Gradit, Danso, Haidara; Abdul Samed; Sotoca, Thomasson, Fofana, Openda; Fulgini

We say: Rennes 1-1 Lens

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