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Suspensions, injuries, doubts… Stade Rennais is preparing the game against Lorient, on Sunday, in bad conditions. Despite a « diminished » squad, Frédéric Antonetti and his players will try to finally showed realism up front and solidity at the back.

The qualification round for the 2010 African Nations Cup ended on Sunday. Verdict? Next January, Stade Rennes should miss Youssouf Hadji, Kader Mangane and Jonathan Pitroipa, and possibly even John Boye and Fantamady Diarra. However, Frédéric Antonetti will be able to count on players whose selections have been eliminated.

Essential in Rennes, Yann M’Vila has also affirmed himself as an important player in the French national team. With his sights set on the Euro 2012, the midfielder already seems to become a key-player for Les Bleus. However, considering his important potential for improvement, there is still many lines of work to focus on for him.

Unable to gain substantial playing time at the Stade Rennais last season, Johann Carrasso, John Verhoek and Frank Julienne have all been loaned this summer. The first two hoped to bounce back while the third-named hoped to gain professional experience. One to two months after their departure from Brittany, how is their loan spell starting?

Ligue 1, Lille 2 - 0 Stade Rennes. By choosing an unusual tactical disposition and making youngster Dimitri Foulquier start the match on the right side of the defence, Frédéric Antonetti tried to innovate against the defendingFrance champion, Lille. But this gamble didn’t pay off and the Rennes’ coach had to change his plans completely during half-time.

Ligue 1, Lille 2 - 0 Stade Rennais. After a dreadful first half, in which they conceded two goals, Rennes showed a better display in the second half, though failing to convert their spells of dominance into goal.

Ligue 1, Lille - Stade rennais, Sunday 17:00. Before the trip to Lille this Sunday, Frédéric Antonetti will once again face a wave of injuries. This is the reason why Fantamady Diarra (photo) and Abdoulaye Sané appear in the Rennes squad. Doubtful since Thursday evening, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik is also included in the squad for this top of the table encounter.

Europa League, Stade Rennais 1 - 1 Atlético Madrid. Rennes can feel frustrated. After having scored first and given a hard time to Atlético Madrid, the Bretons were caught up just three minutes before the final whistle. It looks like a bad habit for Stade Rennes which will have to learn how to keep an advantage.

One of the hot favourites of the Europa League, Atlético Madrid arrives this Thursday in Rennes with ambition and great attacking strength. Is Stade Rennes, affected by injuries and anaccumulation of matches, able to rival in an important game for the qualification?

Europa League, Stade Rennais - Atlético Madrid, Thursday, 19:00 CET. With the current wave of injuries, especially in defence, Frédéric Antonetti sees his possibilities of rotating the squad strongly reduced before facing Atlético. Will the Rennes manager will be tempted to rest some players against the Spanish club ?