Lyon-Rennes is a match on the 19th day of Ligue 1 and is played Friday at 9 p.m.: statistics, likely lineups, TV and predictions.
After a disastrous start to the season, to say the least, and after changing as many as two coaches in the first half of the season, Lyon are giving the impression that they have turned over a new leaf.
The current coach, Pierre Sage – in November he took over from the exonerated Fabio Grosso – was initially supposed to be just a ferryman but the results obtained last month convinced the club to keep him on the bench. And the feeling is that at least for this year he will continue to coach the Gones, unless the situation worsens again. December, we said, was the month of revival for Lyon, which is currently out of the relegation zone (if Ligue 1 ended now it would play the playout). Cherki and his teammates dropped out of last place thanks to three consecutive victories with Toulouse, Monaco, and Nantes, ending 2023 in the best possible way. The new year began with a clear 3-0 thrashing of lowly Pontarlier in the French Cup, but there was a rude awakening in the league match against Le Havre (3-0).
Rennes hunting for fifth success in a row
After finishing almost immediately down by a goal Lyon were left with ten men due to the red waved by the referee to O’Brien, jeopardizing the Gones’ dreams of a comeback.
Sage and his men immediately consoled themselves with a French Cup success against Bergerac Perigord, bent 2-1 away. To definitively forget the drubbing with the newly promoted side, however, Lyon needs a victory in the advance with Rennes, which opens the 19th day. The Rossoneri, like their next opponents, have patched up the first part of the season and are now forced to chase in order not to miss the Europa train. Only tenth, the men coached by Julien Stephan go in the hunt for their fourth success in a row after league successes with Clermont and Nice and cup successes with Guingamp and Marseille, the latter eliminated after penalty kicks.
The prediction
They face two teams that are slowly getting back on their feet after a complicated start. The prediction remains open, as these are two talented but unpredictable formations: Rennes should be able to avoid defeat in a match of at least one goal on each side.
The probable lineups of Lyon-Rennes
LYON (3-4-3): Lopes; Adryelson, Lovren, O’Brien; Mata, Caqueret, Tolisso, Henrique; Fofana, Lacazette, Cherki.
RENNES (4-4-2): Mandanda; G. Doué, Belocian, Theate, Truffert; Bourigeaud, Le Fée, Santamaria, D. Doué; Terrier, Kalimuendo.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
