Lens-Rennes is a match of the second day of Ligue 1 and is played on Sunday at 8:45 pm: statistics, probable formations, predictions.
Confirming yourself is never a given, especially if you are not used to frequenting the top positions in the standings. It was only the first day, but Lens’ resounding defeat in Brittany against Brest (3-2) could be a worrying wake-up call for a team that, after finishing second in last season’s league, lost two key pawns such as Fofana, who was sold to Saudi Al-Nassr, and Openda, who ended up at Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Franck Haise’s men seemed to have the game in their grasp after scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes through Sotoca and Machado, but in the second half they suddenly dropped in intensity exposing themselves to the raids of the Bretons, who were able to complete an incredible comeback and take home three unhoped-for points. Dulcis in fundo – so to speak – the expulsion of Thomasson, later cancelled by the Disciplinary Committee after reviewing the images. The climate, in short, appears tense in the Lens household: the coach is unhappy with the market and with a squad that does not seem to be long enough to cope with two competitions (the Giallorossi will take part in the Champions League this year). Openda’s replacement has not yet arrived, one who can at least guarantee double figures like the Belgian.
For Lens on the second day there is another match with a high difficulty coefficient, against a Rennes side that on the contrary got off to a rocket start, crashing the newly promoted Metz 5-1.
Doku
Bruno Genesio’s Rossoneri went wild in the second half after a balanced first half in which the guests had held their own. In goal were the usual Gouiri and Kalimunendo, but the performance of Ibrahim Salah, who scored a brace, did not go unnoticed either. While waiting to sell Doku, apparently very close to Manchester City, Rennes is running for cover and in recent days has secured the experienced Matic, ex-Roma.
The prediction
Last year Lens leveraged the home factor: no one did better than Haise’s men in home matches, winning 17 out of 19 games. This time there are a few more unknowns: Rennes is a nasty customer and will play it openly but we believe the Giallorossi can snatch at least a point in a match where they will score both.
The likely lineups of Lens-Rennes
- LENS (3-4-3): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Samed, Diouf, Machado; Thomasson, Sotoca, Fulgini.
- RENNES (4-3-3): Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Le Fée; Doku, Kalimuendo, Gouiri.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
