Stade Rennais host Olympique de Marseille at Roazhon Park this weekend, with both sides targeting a place among Ligue 1’s leading teams.
The meeting will be the fourth round of the French top flight and is expected to be a closely contested encounter between two clubs with ambitions near the top of the table.
Rennes have few injury concerns heading into the match. The only question surrounds young central defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, who missed the previous game against Angers but is expected to return to the squad this weekend.
Brice Samba is projected to start in goal, with Przemyslaw Frankowski, Alidu Seidu, Charlie Cresswell and Quentin Merlin forming the defence.
Adrien Thomasson, Valentin Rongier and Sebastian Szymanski are expected to make up the midfield, while Mousa Al Tamari, Esteban Lepaul and Ludovic Blas are in line to lead the attack.
Rennes’ probable XI:
Goalkeeper: Brice Samba
Defenders: Przemyslaw Frankowski, Alidu Seidu, Charlie Cresswell, Quentin Merlin
Midfielders: Adrien Thomasson, Valentin Rongier, Sebastian Szymanski
Forwards: Mousa Al Tamari, Esteban Lepaul, Ludovic Blas
Marseille have more uncertainty in midfield, with two players still unavailable after missing the previous Ligue 1 fixture against Paris FC.
Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tochukwu Nnadine were both ruled out for that match because of physical problems and have not recovered in time for the trip to Brittany. They will therefore miss the meeting with Rennes again.
Jeffrey de Lange is expected to start for Marseille. The anticipated back four consists of Timothy Weah, CJ Egan-Riley, Nayef Aguerd and Emerson.
Himad Abdelli, Angel Gomes and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg are set to form the midfield, with Amine Harit, Amine Gouiri and Igor Paixao named as the likely attacking trio.
Marseille’s probable XI:
Goalkeeper: Jeffrey de Lange
Defenders: Timothy Weah, CJ Egan-Riley, Nayef Aguerd, Emerson
Midfielders: Himad Abdelli, Angel Gomes, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Forwards: Amine Harit, Amine Gouiri, Igor Paixao
Rennes will play Marseille in their fourth Ligue 1 match of the season at Roazhon Park. The listed odds from 1xbet are 2.10 for a Rennes win, 3.80 for a draw and 3.20 for a Marseille victory.