Lazio vs Rennes: Match Preview
Lazio vs Rennes: Match Preview
Lazio hosts Rennes at the Stadio Olimpico in Matchday 2 of the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League. Both teams failed to secure all three points in Matchday 1 of the competition in Group E; Simone Inzaghi’s Aquile lost 2-1 to CFR Cluj in Romania while Julien Stéphan’s Rennais drew Celtic 0-0 at home.
Never have these two clubs faced each other before. However, against French opposition, Lazio have managed to win 12 of 22 encounters; their most recent matches were played against Marseille in the Europa League last season. On the contrary, Rennes have only met with Italian opposition on four occasions – two matches against each Juventus and Udinese. They failed to pick up three points in any of the games.
In regards to form in their respective domestic competitions, the Biancocelesti sit in 6th (Serie A) with a record of 3W-1D-2L, while the Rouges et Noirs sit in 8th (Ligue 1) with a record of 3W-3D-2L.
Lazio vs Rennes: Expected Lineups
Lazio (3-5-1-1): Strakosha; Vavro, Acerbi, Bastos; Lazzari, Parolo, Cataldi, Berisha, Jony; Caicedo, Immobile.
Available from the bench: Proto, Luiz Felipe, Patric, Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto, Lulic, Adekanye.
Rennes (5-3-2): Mendy; Traore, Da Silva, Gelin, Gnagnon, Maouassa; Martin, Grenier, Bourigeuad; Raphinha, Niang.
Available from the bench: Salin, Hunou, Del Castillo, Camavinga, Tait, Siebatcheu, Léa Siliki.
Lazio vs Rennes: Prediction
Lazio have lost their previous five Europa League matches. Apollon Limassol and Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2018/19 Group stage, Sevilla in both the first and second leg of the 2018/19 Round of 32, and most recently CFR Cluj in the 2019/20 Group stage. However, it is important to note that they have a dominant record against French clubs at home – they have won six matches and only lost two in eight outings – and Rennes are winless against Italian sides. Both Inzaghi and Stéphan will be hoping for victory, however, Lazio seem to have a marginal advantage.
Prediction: Lazio 1-0 Rennes
