Rennes-Paris: Back on the attack
Before their clash with Stade Rennais FC at Roazhon Park, we take a closer look at this encounter on Matchday 25 of Ligue 1. We look at the standings, the dynamics of the game and the players to watch, as we preview the tricky match that awaits the Parisians against the in-form Bretons.
An update on the table
The sun is back in Brittany. After a difficult first half of the season, which cost Julien Stéphan and then Jorge Sampaoli their places on the Rennes bench, SRFC are finally back on track. With 4 wins from their last 5 games, the Rouge et Noir now have 29 points and have climbed to 11th in the league. Over this 5-match period, the Ille-et-Vilaine outfit have conceded just 2 goals.
Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, continue to impress with a run of wins at the top of the table. And the latest victories, over Olympique Lyonnais (2-3) and LOSC (4-1), have seen the Parisians consolidate their position at the top, with a total of 62 points. After this week's narrow 0-1 defeat by Liverpool, Luis Enrique's men will no doubt be keen to get back on track immediately.
THE DYNAMICS IN NUMBERS
the opposition
Habib Beye and his team mainly play a 5-3-2 system. In goal, a French international has taken the place of another since the winter: Brice Samba is now Rennes' goalkeeper, relegating Steve Mandanda to the bench. In central defence, another winter recruit stands out: Lilian Brassier. Brassier, who has returned to his hometown club, is set to play alongside another SRFC academy graduate, Jeremy Jacquet. The 19-year-old Frenchman has established himself in the Breton defence in recent weeks.
It remains to be seen whether Anthony Rouault or Hans Hateboer will complete the Rouge et Noir's central defence, given that Alidu Seidu is still injured and neither Mikayil Faye nor Christopher Wooh seem to be in favour. However, there shouldn't be any suspense in the starting line-up out wide. On the left flank, Adrien Truffert has been handed the captain's armband, and he should be joined on the opposite side by Lorenz Assignon, to form a defence almost entirely made up of players from the academy. Carlos Andrés Gómez, meanwhile, is not expected to start on the right flank due to an ankle injury.
In midfield, another Rennes youngster has recently come to the fore: Djaoui Cissé. But the young Franco-Malian will be suspended against the Parisians, and could therefore be replaced by the rock Azor Matusiwa. Essential to Rennes' revival, Jordan James and Seko Fofana should hold down their starting berths, while Canadian international Ismaël Koné could make a substitute appearance. Up front, one man who is well known in the capital stands out: Arnaud Kalimuendo (12 goals and 1 assist in all competitions this season).
The Paris-trained centre-forward has established himself as the spearhead of his team's attack. But alongside him, another man is just as valuable to the Breton team. With 6 goals and 6 assists in Ligue 1 this season, Ludovic Blas has managed to hold his own even when his team-mates have been struggling. The former Nantes man, who has often performed well against the Rouge et Bleu, is likely to be preferred to Mousa Tamari (2 goals, 1 assist) and Kyogo Furuhashi, a Japanese international who arrived this winter after a successful spell at Celtic. It promises to be a fierce battle at Roazhon Park...
