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

The Red and Blacks have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, but still remain in fifth place, while the Blue and Whites are in the relegation zone after losing at home to Toulouse in their last match.

Match preview

Rennes finished in fourth place last season, just three points shy of the Champions League places, and they look set to give it a good go again this year, given that they are six points adrift of third-placed Marseille with just over half the season gone.

At Roazhon Park, the Red and Blacks have been particularly formidable, posing the second-best home record in the entire division, winning nine and losing one of their 10 games up to this point.

As such, Bruno Genesio's side will head into Wednesday's game full of confidence, particularly considering they got the better of Strasbourg away from home earlier this season, winning 3-1 courtesy of goals from Arnaud Kalimuendo, Martin Terrier and Amine Gouiri.

Form has been patchy for Rennes in recent weeks, failing to win their last three games on their travels, including their last match, in which they were defeated 2-1 away at sixth-placed Lorient.

However, in the last match the Red and Blacks contested at Roazhon Park, they were at their usual best, defeating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, and impressively managing to limit their opponents to just one shot on target in the entire match.

Strasbourg have been nowhere near as impressive at home as their opponents, losing 2-1 against Toulouse at Stade de la Meinau in their last match, despite Kevin Gameiro giving them an early lead.

Form has been a little better on the road, however, with a 2-1 victory against Lyon in the middle of January displaying that the Blue and Whites have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with some of the better sides in the division.

It is often the defensive record of Mathieu Le Scornet's side that lets them down, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 14 competitive matches, a run that stretches way back to September, when they played out a 0-0 draw with Clermont.

After a run of just one win in their last 10 Ligue 1 games, Strasbourg find themselves three points from safety, and they will know they have to start turning their form around soon, particularly at home, where they have failed to win all season.

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

W

L

W

L

W

L

Rennes form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

L

Strasbourg Ligue 1 form:

D

L

L

D

W

L

Team News

Rennes have a number of key players out with injuries, the most significant one being Terrier, who has nine goals and four assists to his name in Ligue 1 this season, and Gouiri is expected to lead the line in his absence, with Kalimuendo missing as well.

Lorenz Assignon is not available at right-back due to a knee injury, so Hamari Traore is likely to keep his place, especially considering he assisted the Red and Blacks' only goal of the game last time out.

Moving into the midfield, Xeka is set to miss out because of an ankle issue, with Flavien Tait set to get the nod in the engine room after scoring as a substitute against Lorient, alongside Baptiste Santamaria.

Strasbourg also have a notable absentee in their attack, with Gameiro seeing red in the 2-1 defeat against Toulouse, and the striker will be a big miss, considering he is their second-highest scorer in Ligue 1 this season.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde will not feature in the midfield, having missed the last match with an ankle injury, so Morgan Sanson, Sanjin Prcic and Jean-Eudes Aholou are set to start.

As for the defence, Gerzino Nyamsi is likely to miss out again with an injury issue, with Maxime Le Marchand poised to fill in at centre-back.

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Traore, Wooh, Rodon, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Tait, Santamaria, Doue; Gouiri

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Sels; Doukoure, Djiku, Le Marchand; Guilbert, Aholou, Prcic, Sanson, Sobol; Diallo, Mothiba

We say: Rennes 3-0 Strasbourg

Rennes' fantastic home record coupled with Strasbourg's very poor form suggests that there is only one way this game is going to go, with the hosts romping home to an easy victory.

The absence of Gameiro is likely to play a huge part, as the visitors are without one of their main attacking threats, and we cannot see them getting on the scoresheet without him.

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