On Thursday, Rennes have an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run to eight consecutive matches in all competitions when they host Dynamo Kiev at Roazhon Park in what will be the third encounter for both sides in the Europa League group stage.
After two fixtures, Stade Rennais sit first in Group B with four points, while the Ukrainians are bottom of the group, dropping both of their matches so far at this tournament by a single goal.
Match preview
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After a difficult opening to its 2022-23 campaign, winning one of their first four domestic fixtures, Rennes have settled into a nice groove since the end of August.
Bruno Genesio's men were the second-highest scoring team in Ligue 1 a season ago, tallying 82 times, as 11 different players had two or more goals for them domestically, three of whom reached double digits in that category.
That kind of depth and talent has been evident with Les Rouge et Noir in the early stages of this competition, and it has them seemingly back on track domestically as well.
All four goals scored by Rennes in the Europa League this season have come from a different individual, a feat which at this year's tournament has only been bested by Feyenoord and FC Midtjylland (five each, excluding own goals).
They come into this contest having lost four of their previous five encounters versus Ukrainian opponents, however, Les Rennais have only suffered one defeat in their last 11 matches played in a European competition, falling 2-0 to Leicester City last season in the Europa Conference League.
Rennes have failed to hold a second-half advantage in two of their previous three games played in all competitions, squandering a 2-0 lead in their last Europa League fixture, drawing Fenerbahce 2-2.
In addition to that they have also won four consecutive home matches in all competitions and are unbeaten in a European game played at Roazhon Park since falling 3-1 to Sevilla in their final group stage encounter at the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League.
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The mood in Kiev has not been quite as pleasant for the 16-time Ukrainian champions as mental errors have proven to be their demise in the 2022-23 Europa League.
A late injury-time strike sent Dynamo Kiev to defeat in their first group game at this tournament, as Michy Batshuayi broke their hearts with a goal in the 92nd-minute, helping Fenerbahce triumph 2-1.
On matchday two, the Ukrainians were done in by an early tally versus AEK Larnaca eight minutes into that contest, falling 1-0, extending their winless streak at home in the Europa League to five straight games, their longest such run in the competition.
Be it home or away, Dynamo have not fared well at this competition of late, losing four consecutive encounters, which is as many as they had dropped in their previous 18 Europa League fixtures, though they have never lost three group games in a single edition of this tournament.
Biyo-syni have not made it beyond the group stage of a European competition since qualifying for the last 16 of this tournament in 2018-19, though they did make it into the knockout portion of the 2020-21 Europa League thanks to a third-place finish in their Champions League group that season.
Over the weekend, manager Mircea Lucescu saw his side win only their second domestic fixture of the campaign, 1-0 over Myani, ending a run of three straight defeats in all competitions away from home.
Team News
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Martin Terrier, who notched the winner for Rennes this weekend against Strasbourg (3-1), tallied his first of this competition on Matchday Two, with the other goal coming from Lovro Majer, while Lorenz Assignon and Arthur Theate both scored in their opening match victory against AEK Larnaca (2-1).
Kamaldeen Sulemana leads the team with two assists in the Europa League this year, Arnaud Kalimuendo notched his first of the domestic campaign this weekend, Amine Gouiri scored goal number two of his Ligue 1 season, while both men are seeking their first at this tournament.
Their captain Hamari Traore will not be available after receiving a straight red card in their draw versus Fenerbahce and Warmed Omari is out due to a problem in his groin.
Baptiste Santamaria will not be ready until January with an ankle injury, and Sulemana should be healed from his bruised knee by mid-October.
Viktor Tsyhankov has the only goal for Kiev so far in this competition, as he managed to tally in their victory on Sunday, with Denys Boyko picking up a clean sheet.
Tomasz Kedziora and Vitaliy Buyalskyi scored in their previous visit to Roazhon Park at the 2018-19 Europa League, winning 2-1, with Denys Harmash assisting on their opener.
We saw three new faces to the Dynamo starting 11 from matchday one to two as Boyko replaced Heorhiy Bushchan in goal, Illya Zabarnyi took the spot of Mykyta Burda at centre-back, while Oleksandr Andriyevskyi was inserted in place of Mykola Shaparenko in the midfield.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Meling, Theate, Assignon, Wooh; Terrier, Tait, Majer, Bourigeaud; Doku, Gouiri
Dynamo Kiev possible starting lineup:
Boyko; Vivcharenko, Zabarnyi, Syrota, Dubinchak; Tsyhankov, Sydorchuk, Shepelyev, Karavayev; Buyalskyi, Vanat
We say: Rennes 2-0 Dynamo Kiev
Rennes have various attacking threats who know how to find the back of the net, many more than Kiev can count on to score.
Even though the visitors captured the only two meetings between these sides at the 2018-19 Europa League group stage, the Ukrainians have conceded their share of scoring opportunities on the road, and Stade Rennais have the weapons to make those chances count.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
