Montaño in the squad, but...
Ligue 1, Valenciennes - Stade Rennais, Sunday, 17:00. Although his presence was uncertain until then, Victor Hugo Montaño is finally included in the squad announced by Frédéric Antonetti. However, impossible to say whether his will start the game, following a minor pelvis injury… Compared to last week, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik returns after a two matches ban.
Less than 24 hours before a crucial game in Stade Rennais FC’s season, still in the race for a European slot, Frédéric Antonetti unveiled a squad including not 18 but 19 players for the trip to Valenciennes.
A sign of uncertainty regarding Victor Hugo Montaño, handicapped with pelvis pain all week? Yesterday, Antonetti took a resigned expression to explain, during the press conference, that his Colombian striker wasn’t 100% certain to start at the Stade Nungesser. Before taking a decision on this question, the Rennes coaching staff decided to play the card of caution for this trip in the north. If Montaño was to miss out, John Verhoek could be the replacement solution, despite a more than average performance last week against the Girondins de Bordeaux (0-0).
This week, the tactics implemented by Antonetti during the various training sessions have given the observers a few hints regarding Stade Rennes’ starting eleven. With Jirès Kembo out, Romain Danzé should step up and play as a right midfielder. This tactical modification will also force changes in the defensive line-up. With Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik returning at centre-back, John Boye should start at right back. At midfield, Antonetti has seemingly decided to rest Alexander Tettey, who seemed to run out of steam since several weeks. While it was thought Fabien Lemoine could be returning as a starter, Tongo Doumbia seems to have the preference of the Rennes manager to start alongside Stéphane Dalmat and Yann M’Vila.
Stade Rennais FC
- Goalkeepers : J. Carrasso, Douchez
- Defenders : Boye, Danzé, Jebbour, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Souprayen
- Mildfielders: Dalmat, Doumbia, Lemoine, Leroy, Mandjeck, M’Vila, Tettey
- Forwards: Boukari, Camara, Montaño, Verhoek
- Injured : Apam (knee), Brahimi (thigh), Kembo (thigh), Marveaux (thigh), Théophile-Catherine (fibula)
- Manager’s decision : Diallo, Dembélé, Foulquier, Kandji, Issah, Caro, Julienne