Rennes vs Celtic
Europa League Group E
5:55pm Thursday September
Stade de la Route-de-Lorient
Rennes head coach Julien Stephan considers because he warned his team that getting out of the group could be more difficult than last year Celtic are quite near the grade of Europa League rivals Lazio.
Celtic kick off their group effort in Brittany on Thursday while their Champions League conquerors, Cluj, take about the Italians.
Rennes reached the last 16 final season, losing to Arsenal and behind Dinamo Kiev and finishing ahead of Astana and Jablonec.
However, Stephan stated:”It will be totally different group from this past year, we think that it’s a stronger group. They are utilised to winning national names, annually almost, they’ve won eight titles in a row.
“They are a team who are usually at the Champions League and they’ve got huge experience with many internationals.
“We know they could play at the air and they are very technical. They are a very, very good team and have technical players such as (Callum) McGregor, (Ryan) Christie, (James) Forrest, simply to mention a couple.
“They are nicely balanced and we understand how hard it’ll be we are lucky to perform at house and the fans will play a big role in a potential win for all of us.
“I really do believe Celtic are one of the favorites. As far as experience they need to be in a position to perform well, perhaps just behind Lazio.”
Stephan has dropped half of their team that won the Cup but Rennes sit second in the table Paris Saint-Germain during their opening five matches.
“it is a new team, a new season, there is a new story to be informed and we need to construct a narrative with a brand new team,” he said. “We can’t compare this year with last season, last year is history.
“We’re in the process of fixing and the group is evolving. We’ve had a very good beginning in the league and now we will need to take it in to Europe.”
Christopher Jullien was declared fit for the match after sustaining a head injury from Hamilton.
The Frenchman and Marios Ogkmpoe and needed medical care clashed before he was forced off.
Hatem Abd Elhamed is pushing for a start if Neil Lennon opts to rest Jullien, but Leigh Griffiths didn’t journey after picking up a thigh knock.
Rennes losing 1-3 away from the 2011-12 Europa League group stages and are winless in each of the meetings at home, drawing 1-1 with Celtic.
Celtic are winless in their last seven away European games against French resistance (D2 L5) since beating Nantes 3-1 from the 1966-67 European Cup last 16, en route to winning the trophy.
Adding qualifiers, Rennes have dropped just one of the last 15 home games in European competitors (W8 D6), going down 1-2 against Dynamo Kiev in previous season’s Europa League group phase.
In Champions League and Europa League matches united, Celtic have won just three of their 45 away team stage matches (W3 D11 L31), together with a few of those victories coming from last year’s competition (1-0 in Rosenborg).
The James Forrest of celtic has played in each of his last four games in European competition this season, such as in the two legs of their Europa League qualifying victory against AIK.
Rennes have begun in Ligue 1. I hope that M’Baye Niang won’t be enjoying. He is lightning quick, almost a version of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These guys move and can play, and that is what Celtic fight against.
Celtic is going to be useful about the counter-attack, but their standing is exactly the same. They get scared when they go away from your home. They do not understand if to perform a squeezing sport or not and where to throw their defence.
They pace out wide and are going to have technically talented players. Celtic will not endanger here and have traumas that are defensive.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
Follow upgrades to the other side of the Sky Sports site and program via our game site. Coverage will begin at 4.55pm.
Watch more games this year for less with our whole Soccer Offer. Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Premier League stations for only #18 extra monthly!
Read more here: http://psyholod.com/2019/10/20/tabdeed-bids-for-fifth-career-win-on-saturday/
