Stade Rennes will play an European cup !

After their run of nine games without a win, one single success was finally enough for Stade Rennes to clinch a European spot for next season.
With two games left to play, the « Rouge et Noir » are now out of reach for seven-placed Lorient, who had to settle for a draw this Sunday evening against Marseille (2-2). Stade Rennais can’t finish under the sixth position.

However, the last two games will remain important for Frédéric Antonetti and his squad. Although the third place, and a qualification for the Champions League’s play-off round, is still a mathematical possibility, it would take an incredible chain of events for Rennes to clinch this podium spot.

Until the end of the season, it’s rather to keep their fifth place that Stade Rennes will have to fight. Indeed, next season, the fourth, fifth and sixth Ligue 1 team will be featuring in the Europa League. The sixth-placed club, however, will have a different treatment to the other two, with an additional qualifying round (two-legged) before trying to qualify for the group phase.
A perspective which – as well as adding two dates to the calendar – would force the said club to play on July 28th, a bit more than a week before the Ligue 1 restarts, on August 6th.

On Wednesday, in a late match, Lille will host FC Sochaux, a direct competitor for Stade Rennais in the race for fifth place. Lille, who could make a giant step towards the title by beating the “Lionceaux2, would also help the Stade Rennais if they were to win that game.
With a four points advantage in case of a Sochaux defeat, a win against Nancy next Saturday would be enough to guarantee a top 5 finish to the Bretons.