Ligue 1

Ligue 1, Stade rennais - Lille, Sunday 21:00 CET. Frédéric Antonetti has called a group of eighteen players to face the defending champions, Lille. Respectively suffering with ankle and foot injuries, Kader Mangane and Tongo Doumbia are unavailable for tonight’s game.

After having conceded four goals in Saint-Étienne, Stade Rennais will be hosts to Lille, one of the best attacks in Ligue 1, this Sunday. Not reassuring for a contender for European places, but Rennes is possibly showing the signs of a new way of playing.

Ligue 1, Saint-Étienne 4 - 0 Stade Rennais. After a balanced first half, Rennes has completely collapsed in the second half at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, conceding three more goals. Because of a really efficient and clinical Saint-Etienne, but also of a really shaky Rennes defence.

Ligue 1, Saint-Étienne - Stade Rennais, Sunday 17:00 CET. Frédéric Antonetti has called a group of twenty one players for the trip in the Forez. Back from the AfCoN, Boye is one of them, as well as Boukari, returning from injury. Foulquier, also in the squad, is expected to start on Sunday.

Squad competition is fully effective. Before travelling to Saint-Etienne on Sunday, nearly every player of the Stade Rennais will have to “give it all” in order to be guaranteed a starting slot.

Ligue 1, Stade Rennais 1 - 0 Sochaux. Rennes needed to win in order to remain in competition with the leading teams. Yann M’Vila and his team-mates managed it, despite a few frights, by inflicting Sochaux their eleventh defeat of the season, thanks to the first goal by Mevlüt Erding with his new team. A victory that allows Stade Rennes to get nearer to the podium, profiting of the defeat of Lyon earlier in the day against Caen.

Ligue 1, Stade rennais - Sochaux, Saturday 18:00 CET. To face Sochaux this Saturday, Frédéric Antonetti has called a squad identical to this that beat Évian TG last Tuesday. For the same result?

Ligue 1, Nancy 0 - 0 Stade rennais. In difficult conditions, Stade Rennais didn’t shine but still manage to salvage a draw from their trip to Nancy. After a lively and balanced first half, the second was more difficult for the Rennais, who never managed to find a way round the Nancéiens.

Ligue 1, Nancy - Stade Rennais, Saturday 15:00 CET. In order to keep up with the leading pack, Stade Rennais must win in Lorraine or see the European positions drift away. With this objective in Mind, Mevlüt Erding, arrived just over a week, should be offered his first start with the Stade Rennais.

Despite the defeat against Marseille, the Rouge et Noir are convinced they can manage an European place, or even better. Explanations before the trip to Nancy next Saturday.