Rennes arrive in Lyon with the league table glowing and the attack still asking questions. Joint leaders with Lille and Monaco, Franck Haise’s side face a demanding Saturday night trip at 20:45 after being held scoreless by Sturm Graz in midweek.
Quick facts
- Rennes are level at the top of Ligue 1 with Lille and Monaco.
- They travel to Lyon on Saturday for a 20:45 kick-off.
- Franck Haise has a fully fit squad available.
- Rennes drew 0-0 at Sturm Graz in Europe on Wednesday.
- Eliezer Mayenda, signed for €22m, is still waiting for his first start.
Haise is expected to make limited changes again, having rotated his team across a quick sequence of matches. Rennes made three alterations between the 2-1 win against Angers on September 6 and the 1-0 victory in Marseille five days later, before another reshuffle for the Austrian trip.
Valentin Rongier, Quentin Merlin and Przemyslaw Frankowski are among the players who could return to the starting line-up at Lyon. The coach can select from his entire group, a useful position before one of the season’s more difficult away assignments.
The larger decision may come in the forward positions. Rennes failed to find a way through Sturm Graz, and Haise must decide whether to retain the established attacking order of Mousa Al-Tamari, Esteban Lepaul and Ludovic Blas.
Mayenda offers another possibility. The €22m attacking arrival has so far been restricted to brief appearances, but could be considered for his first start as Rennes look for more menace around Lepaul.
Haise also wants greater end product from his wide players. Al-Tamari, Blas, Mayenda, Soumaré and Nordin have yet to score, leaving Lepaul without enough support despite Rennes’ strong league opening.
Lyon will test whether the co-leaders can keep winning while refreshing their side, and whether Rennes’ wide attackers can turn possession and promise into goals.
