The Europa League knockout playoff round continues on Thursday night as Ligue 1 side Rennes welcome Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk to Roazhon Park for the second leg of the tie.
The visitors have the upper hand going into the second leg having won the first leg, which was played in Poland due to the war in Ukraine, 2-1.
Match preview
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Bruno Genesio's Rennes are fifth in Ligue 1 and are on course to claim a place in the Europa League again next season.
The French side's form is hugely inconsistent, though, with three losses and three wins in their last six league matches.
Rennes did win their last league outing however, a 2-0 success at home to Clermont Foot on February 19.
Rennes' excellent home league record this season of 11 wins and two losses in 13 games will give them hope of turning around the 2-1 deficit from the first leg in front of their own fans on Thursday night.
Genesio's side have also recorded six clean sheets in their 13 home league matches this season and another one on Thursday night would make their task a lot easier.
One statistic that will give Rennes confidence ahead of the second leg is their record of 30 goals scored at home in the league this season which is the joint-second best in Ligue 1.
Two players who will be central to their hopes of overturning the deficit on Thursday night are forwards Amine Gouiri and Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Gouiri is Rennes' top scorer in all competitions this season with 11 goals, including two in four Europa League appearances, and he will be hoping to increase his tally on Thursday night.
Kalimuendo scored both goals in the win over Clermont Foot last time out and will be looking to continue this goalscoring form against Shakhtar.
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Igor Jovicevic's Shakhtar are hoping to repeat their run to the semi-finals of this competition in 2020 and are halfway to a last-16 appearance following their 2-1 victory in the first leg of this tie in Poland last Thursday.
The first leg was Shakhtar's first competitive game since the Ukrainian Premier League paused for its winter break in November.
The fact that they managed to grab a victory after such a long break will be a huge boost to their confidence ahead of both a tricky trip to France for the second leg and their domestic season resuming later this month.
The sale of their talisman Mykhaylo Mudryk in January was a huge blow to the team, but his departure has given an opportunity for the side's other attackers to showcase their talents.
Dmytro Kryskiv played in Mudryk's left-wing position in the first leg and scored the opening goal - a similar performance will be needed from him on Thursday night if Shakhtar are to reach the last 16.
Defender Mykola Matvienko is a mainstay of the team and his performances have been a big reason why the team have conceded only 11 league goals this season.
Matvienko and the rest of the Shakhtar defence will need to be watertight if they are to progress against a Rennes side with a terrific home record.
Team News
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Martin Terrier suffering a season-ending cruciate ligament rupture in January was a massive blow to Rennes.
Karl Toko Ekambi will continue to deputise out wide for the winger and will hope to repeat his goal against Shakhtar in the first leg.
Bruno Genesio will also be without defensive midfielder Xeka, who is struggling with an ankle injury, so Lovro Majer will take his place.
Rennes have something of an injury crisis at right-back ahead of the game as Lorenz Assignon has injured his cruciate ligament and club captain Hamari Traore has a knock.
Spurs loanee Djed Spence will earn his fourth start since the deadline-day move in place of the stricken full-backs.
Shakhtar will be without right winger Maryan Shved, who is struggling with a groin injury, so Oleksandr Zubkov will start for the Ukrainian outfit in his place.
Attacking midfielder Oleg Ocheretko will also be out of the second leg with a knock, so Georgiy Sudakov will take his place in the visitors' midfield.
Lassina Traore is likely to start upfront as a lone striker in Jovicevic's 4-1-4-1 system, with Danylo Sikan possibly making an appearance from the bench.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Spence, Omari, Belocian, Meling; Bourigeaud, Majer, Santamaria, Toto Ekambi; Gouiri, Kalimuendo
Shakhtar Donetsk possible starting lineup:
Trubin; Konoplya, Bondar, Matvienko, Mykhaylichenko; Stepanenko; Zubkov, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Kryskiv; Traore
We say: Rennes 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Rennes will be confident that they can overturn a one-goal deficit in this second leg at Roazhon Park, especially as their home form this season has been excellent.
Bruno Genesio's team are aiming to reach the last 16 of this competition for the first time since the 2018-19 season, and a front two of Gouiri and Kalimuendo as well as a partisan home crowd may be too much for Shakhtar to cope with.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ollie Hawthorn
