In order to keep their hopes of moving directly into the Europa League round of 16 alive, Rennes will need a result on matchday six at Roazhon Park on Thursday when they host AEK Larnaca.
The French side are unbeaten in seven successive European home fixtures but trail Fenerbahce by a single goal for first place in Group B, while the only victory for AEK in the group-stage came away from home at Dynamo Kiev (1-0).
Match preview
© Reuters
While they are assured of at least a spot in the knockout stage playoffs, Bruno Genesio's men missed a golden opportunity to move into sole possession of first in Group B on matchday five.
Les Rennais stunned the Turks in Istanbul early on, taking a 3-0 lead after only a half hour, but they failed to put the match to bed, conceding twice in the final 10 minutes, playing to a 3-3 draw.
That was the second time that they had squandered a multiple-goal lead in the Europa League group stage and failed to win, and the first time they had dropped points when holding a second-half advantage since drawing Marseille 1-1 in a September fixture.
Since the beginning of September, Rennes have scored multiple goals in all but three matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in their last 14 competitive games both domestically and in Europe.
In their first encounter against Larnaca, Les Rouge et Noir encountered a pesky side who made them work hard to earn all three points, as a strike in the 94th minute ultimately gave the club from Brittany the victory.
Rennes come into this meeting unbeaten in their last eight matches played at Roazhon Park in all competitions, with seven of those games ending in a victory for the home team.
© Reuters
They may not be going into the next round of this competition, but AEK can be very proud of how they have competed in the group stage.
Larnaca have given their superior opponents all they can handle, losing two matches by a single goal, while an own goal from Rafail Mamas ended any hopes of a comeback for them on matchday three against Fenerbahce (2-0).
Manager Jose Luis Oltra saw his team squander a 3-1 lead to Dynamo Kiev in their previous Europa League clash, conceding twice in the final 10 minutes plus stoppage time, drawing 3-3.
Despite that result, AEK have assured themselves of a place in the Europa Conference League, and with a victory on Thursday, they would eclipse their point total from the 2018-19 group stage of this tournament when they finished third with five points.
The two-time Cypriot Cup winners have lost all three of their matches played against French clubs and have been outscored 6-1.
AEK have not suffered consecutive away defeats in a single European campaign since 1996-97 in the old Cup-Winners' Cup competition.
- W
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Amine Gouiri notched a brace and Martin Terrier scored as well on matchday five, as the Rennes duo have been directly involved in four goals in the Europa League this season.
The only previous player involved in more goals for this club in this competition was Ismaila Sarr, who had six goal involvements in 2018-19.
Lorenz Assignon notched the winner in their previous fixture against AEK, while Steve Mandanda picked up a clean sheet over the weekend in a 3-0 victory domestically over Montpellier, his first at home since blanking Nantes by that same score in October.
Arthur Theate had the opening goal for Rennes on matchday one, while Baptiste Santamaria remains out of the lineup because of an ankle injury.
Omri Altman has five goals in his last two matches in all competitions for Larnaca, scoring a hat-trick this weekend in a 4-0 win domestically versus Karmiotissa, with the other goal coming from Adam Gyurcso.
Kenan Piric is second in the Europa League regarding saves with 22, one fewer than Conor Hazard, Rafael Lopes scored the third goal for his side in their draw with Kiev on matchday five and Oier Sanjurjo had their lone strike in a defeat versus Rennes.
Angel Garcia missed their match against Dynamo through suspension, with Nikos Englezou replacing him, while Lopes, Pere Pons and Gyurcso were also inserted into the starting 11.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Truffert, Theate, Rodon, Traore; Tait, Ugochukwu, Majer; Terrier, Gouiri, Bourigeaud
AEK Larnaca possible starting lineup:
Piric; Rosales, Milicevic, Tomovic, Englezou; Ledes; Naoum, Pons, Altman, Gyurcso; Lopes
We say: Rennes 2-0 AEK Larnaca
Larnaca have proven they can compete, but it is hard to see them being able to shut out a side in Rennes with so many weapons in the attacking third, scoring in 17 consecutive matches in all competitions.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
