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

Les Rennais are third in the table with 28 points, while Le Tefece are winless in their last three domestic encounters, currently in 12th with 16 points.

Match preview

Early in November, the offensive machine of Rennes has been held in check, scoring just a single goal in both of their two matches this month.

On Sunday, they managed only two shots against Lille, their lowest total in a Ligue 1 fixture since November 2014 when they had that exact total in a match versus Lens.

In 2022 they have shown extraordinary quality in the attacking third at Roazhon Park, scoring 50 goals there in Ligue 1 fixtures, second only to Manchester City (56) in the top five European leagues this year.

In addition to that, Bruno Genesio's men have found the back of the net multiple times in 15 of their 16 domestic home matches this year, which ties the reigning Premier League champions for the most among the teams in the top five European leagues.

Les Rouge et Noir have earned at least a point in 10 consecutive domestic affairs, their best form since putting together an 18-game unbeaten run in the top flight between August 2008 and January 2009.

They come into this encounter unbeaten in their last 10 fixtures versus Toulouse in Ligue 1, with their last defeat against them coming away from home in August 2017 (3-2).

After an impressive month of football for Toulouse in October, they have gone through a bit of a dry spell in the early stages of November.

Philippe Montanier's men have suffered consecutive shutout losses after earning at least a point in their first four matches last month, scoring 10 goals over that stretch.

They won their first away fixture of the season but have been unable to maintain that momentum of late, going winless in five successive road games.

It has been over two months since Les Violets have found the back of the net in the opening half of an away encounter, as they have failed to score in half of their road fixtures (2/4) since September.

Their 25 goals conceded so far in the top flight is just eight fewer than what they had allowed in their title-winning campaign in Ligue 2 last season.

Toulouse have not beaten Rennes on their home ground in the top flight since the 2014-15 campaign (3-0) but have not made it easy on the home side, with their last four visits to Roazhon Park being decided by a goal or fewer.

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

W

W

W

W

W

D

Rennes form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

D

D

Toulouse Ligue 1 form:

W

D

W

D

L

L

Team News

Benjamin Bourigeaud scored his first goal of the domestic campaign, helping Rennes draw Lille 1-1, while Amine Gouiri has found the back of the net in his last four league matches played at Roazhon Park.

Steve Mandanda was selected for the French World Cup squad as they defend their title later this month in Qatar, but Adrien Truffert did not make the cut despite being chosen for the national team in their Nations League fixtures in September.

Warmed Omari is dealing with a sore groin, while Baptiste Santamaria and Kamaldeen Sulemana both have ankle issues.

Joe Rodon could miss a few weeks due to an illness, Martin Terrier is expected to be out until late November with a hamstring injury and Birger Meling will be suspended following his red card against Lille.

Rasmus Nicolaisen returned to the lineup for Toulouse last weekend against Monaco after missing their previous match versus Lens because of a red card suspension, with Moussa Diarra taking his place.

The last two goals scored by Toulouse came at home in a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg with Anthony Rouault and Brecht Dejaegere both finding the mark on that occasion.

Besides the change in central defence, Montanier added three more new faces to his starting 11 last Sunday as Kevin Keben, Rafael Ratao and Veljko Birmancevic replaced Mikkel Desler, Fares Chaibi and Thijs Dallinga.

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Truffert, Theate, Wooh, Traore; Majer, Ugochukwu, Bourigeaud; Tait, Kalimuendo, Gouiri

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Dupe; Keben, Roualt, Nicolaisen, Sylla; Chaibi, Spierings, van den Boomen; Ratao, Aboukhlal, Healey

We say: Rennes 2-0 Toulouse

Toulouse led Ligue 2 in scoring a season ago, but they have not been as consistent in the attacking third in the top flight.

Even without their top goalscorer in Terrier, Rennes have a plethora of scoring threats that the visitors will need to watch out for, and we believe the depth of Les Rennais will overwhelm Les Pitchouns this weekend.

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