Paris-Rennes: Holding off the Bretons

A word on the standings

After back-to-back defeats at Strasbourg (3-1) and Reims (2-1), Stade Rennais FC once again used Roazhon Park to bounce back against Montpellier and win by the same scoreline as their 3-0 win over Olympique Lyonnais on match day 1. But just as the Bretons had the chance to add a third consecutive win on home turf against Lens last week, the Rouge et Noir saw the Sang & Or snatch a 1-1 draw in injury time. In the standings, SRFC now lie in 8th place with 7 points from 5 games.

Paris Saint-Germain, for their part, suffered their first setback of the season at the Stade Auguste-Delaune on the final day against a solid Reims side. After SDR had taken the lead early on, Ousmane Dembélé allowed Paris to get back into the game and share the points (1-1). Prior to that, the Rouge et Bleu had enjoyed a string of league wins over Le Havre (1-4), Montpellier (6-0), Lille (1-3) and Brest (3-1). It's a near-perfect record so far, and one that has put the capital club top of Ligue 1 on goal difference.

dynamics in numbers

opposing forces

Julien Stéphan and his team are mainly using a new system: the 5-2-3. In goal, the irreplaceable Steve Mandanda is probably playing his final season with the Rouge et Noir. The man who has inherited the captain's armband should be able to rely on a three-man central defence. Ghana international Alidu Seidu, who has performed well since the start of the season, is expected to start in the centre, with Hans Hateboer on the right side of the three.

Finally, Cameroon international Christopher Wooh is the favourite to fill the final starting spot in the middle of the defence, at the expense of ex-Napolitan Leo Østigård, who has been a regular starter this season. Senegal international Mikayil Faye, who arrived from Barcelona at the very end of the summer transfer window, could get his first minutes in a Rennes shirt. At right-back, Lorenz Assignon, a product of the Breton youth academy, is expected to start. The same applies to the opposite flank, where French international Adrien Truffert is expected to start.

In midfield, the double pivot of Azor Matusiwa and Baptiste Santamaria could provide Rennes with a better defensive foundation. However, the return of Glen Kamara, who has a more box-to-box profile, should provide the Bretons' coaching staff with an additional option, given that Welsh international Jordan James has so far been given very little playing time. In attack, the game is mainly centred around one man: Ludovic Blas. The former Nantes man, who has scored 4 times in 5 matches (2 goals, 2 assists), is expected to play on the right side, while his new partner Carlos Andrés Gómez is expected to make his return to the Rennes squad.

But on the left flank too, SRFC can rely on some strong individuals. In the absence of new recruit Jota, who has spent time with the likes of Benfica and Glasgow Celtic, the Rouge et Noir are getting to know another newcomer to Rennes: Albert Grønbaek. The versatile Danish international is expected to compete with the formidable Amine Gouiri for a starting place against the Parisians, as well as supporting Arnaud Kalimuendo, who is tipped to line up at the apex of Rennes' attack. The Paris Saint-Germain-developed centre-forward has been in fine form in recent weeks, scoring two goals in four games.