Same players...

Same players, play again. Or at least they will try: against Sochaux, Frédéric Antonetti decided to call a group identical to this that faced Evian on Tuesday, with the aim to try a second consecutive home game. C alled as the nineteenth man against the Savoyards, youngster Dimitri Foulquier is out of the squad this time.

For the rest, the same players will try to achieve a victory they couldn’t quite manage in their last two outings in Ligue 1. The absentees remain the same: while Boye and Diarra will return from the African Cup of Nations next week, Razak Boukari and Youssouf Hadji are still injured. They are both expected to return to full training within the next few days, increasing the competition even more in attack.
As for the starters, it seems that Frédéric Antonetti will field his best eleven against Sochaux. Romain Danzé should start at right back with Théophile-Catherine returning to the left flank. After returning in the eleven against Évian, Mangane could return at the heart of the defence. In midfield, while the presence of M’Vila and Féret are guaranteed, it remains to be seen whether Antonetti will prefer the physical presence and endurance of Doumbia or the technique and work-rate of Pajot. Finally, although the possibilities are multiple in attack, the trio that started against Évian could be brought to start again this week-end.

Fighting for survival in the top flight, Sochaux come to the Stade de la Route de Lorient in a difficult position. The team from Franche –Comte hasn’t won a single game since the beginning of November and is on a run of nine games without a victory, including seven defeats. So far, they have only managed one victory on the road, in Nancy at the really beginning of the season.
Making matter worse, Mécha Bazdarevic comes to Rennes with a team lacking numerous regular starters. In defence, the lacks are massive, since the Bosnian manager will have to do without Bréchet, Carlão and Corchia, while goalkeeper Teddy Richert is also absent. At midfield, Sébastien Roudet is also missing while striker Modibo Maïga is yet to return from the AfCoN.
As a result, the FCSM travels to Rennes with a squad reduced to seventeen players. A squad in which former Rennais Abdoul Camara returns after several weeks at the AfCoN, as well as Charlie Davies, who hasn’t played in Ligue 1 since October 2009.

Stade rennais FC

- Goalkeepers : Costil, Diallo
- Defenders : Apam, Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Mavinga, Théophile-Catherine
- Midfielders : Doumbia, Féret, M’Vila, Pajot, Tettey
- Forwards : Brahimi, Erding, Kembo, Montaño, Pitroipa

• Injured : Boukari (hamstring), Hadji (hamstring)
• Suspended : n/a
• International : Boye, Diarra
• Manager’s decision : N’Diaye, Foulquier, Jebbour, Kandji, Dalmat, Doucouré, Issah, Rouger, Sané

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

- Goalkeepers : P. Camara, Cros
- Defenders : Banana, Mikari, Mouyokolo, Perquis, Peybernes, Sauget
- Midfielders : Boudebouz, Doubaï, Martin, Nogueira, Pujol
- Forwards : Butin, A. Camara, Davies, Privat

• Injured : Bréchet (hamstring), Carlão (hamstring), Richert (finger), Corchia (hamstring), Roudet (hamstring)
• Suspended: n/a
• International : Maïga
• Manager’s decision : Roussillon, Prcic, Lopy, Dias, Osanga, Bakambu, Gurler