2023-24 French Ligue 1
When is Lens vs Rennes on and what time does it start? Lens vs Rennes will take place on Sunday 20 August, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Lens vs Rennes? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Lens vs Rennes on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to Ligue 1 matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Lens vs Rennes
Where can I stream Lens vs Rennes in the UK? If Lens vs Rennes is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
LENS
After being promoted to the top-flight in 2020, Lens have been run in an exceptional manner off the pitch and that has led to ridiculously impressive results on it. They qualified automatically for the UEFA Champions League group stages last season and even pushed Paris Saint-Germain for the title all the way until the end of the 38-game season.
Over the summer, though, they have lost their captain and key player, Seko Fofana, to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. They have also sold top goal scorer and star striker Lois Openda for around 43 million euros to RB Leipzig. The loss of these two players will concern supporters, especially starting with a 3-2 defeat away to Stade Brest after leading that game by two goals to nil early on.
RENNES
Under the management of former Olympique Lyonnais manager Bruno Genesio, Stade Rennais are a very ambitious side that play proactive and attacking football. They finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League last season. Over the summer, they have added some big money names such as Ludovic Blas and Enzo Le Fee, as well as Nemanja Matic; although they did recently sell Lovro Majer to Wolfsburg.
The visitors began the 2023/24 Ligue 1 campaign in an impressive and emphatic fashion, demolishing newly-promoted Metz by five goals to one. Rennes took an early lead in the 20minute before being immediately pinned back but second-half goals from Amine Gouiri, Manchester City-bound Jeremy Doku and then a late brace from Ibrahim Salah gave them their 5-1 win.
THE TEAM NEWS
LENS
Franck Haise’s preferred formation is 3-4-1-2 and, even after their loss last weekend, after a second place finish last season they are expected to be unchanged for this week as they seek to bounce back.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Diouf, Machado; Sotoca, Fulgini; Guilavogui
UNAVAILABLE: Poreba (Injured), Said (Injured), Cabot (Injured), Farinez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RENNES
Bruno Genesio’s preferred formation of 4-3-3 will be persisted with this weekend and with no fresh injury concerns then the visitors are expected to name an unchanged side after their absolute thrashing of Metz last weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Belocian; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Le Fee; Doku, Kalimuendo, Gouiri
UNAVAILABLE: Truffert (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Lens will improve upon last weekend. There will be concerns about the departures of Fofana and Openda but there will also be major trust, and rightly so, that those players can be replaced by players of the same level or even slightly better. However, it can be argued that last season remains an underperformance and if they are to dip this year, back-to-back defeats to start the campaign does not seem unrealistic, especially when they face a Rennes side off the back of an ambitious summer transfer window and heavy opening day win. A fun game could be in store with goals expected but there will be good value in backing Rennes for this one.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – RENNES TO WIN OR DRAW
