Round 4 of Ligue 1 ends with a high-profile clash between Rennes and Lyon. The Rennais have a desperate need for a strong showing, while the Kids aim to remain as close to PSG as possible.
Rennes kicked off the new campaign with an impressive win over Marseille, but their joy was short-lived, as they lost 4-0 to Lorient the week after, and then couldn't beat Angers right before the international break (1-1). This slow start is far from what their fans hoped for after one of the worst campaigns in recent years, which saw the Rennais finish 12th and a whole 16 points below Europe.
Meanwhile, the crisis in Lyon is clearly over, as the Kids played three brilliant matches to start the season with three wins. That's the best way to forget a campaign, which almost had them miss out on Europe. There will be no Champions League football, but their current form ranks them among the favourites in the Europa League.
How the bookies view it: Completely even chances
You won't ever find a more evenly priced matchup. Both sides are available at 8/5, meaning that bookmakers truly favour a tie. If you share their opinion, you can pick the draw at 13/5.
Recent head to head: The Kids were given some lessons
Predicting this rivalry has always been a difficult task and the recent results prove it. We haven't seen a draw between Rennes and Lyon in 10 matches, with the last one being in 2021. And since then, the results have been all over the place. Curiously, Rennes have a minimal advantage with five wins to four. Last season, both teams won at home, with Rennes winning 3-0 and Lyon winning 4-1.
Players to watch: Fofana has been forced to step up
Lyon's Malick Fofana has been tasked with the goalscoring job this season, as the 20-year-old is now the starting striker in every match. The Belgian youngster made a splash in the Europa League last season, scoring six goals in 10 appearances, and has already been involved in two goals for the team in Ligue 1 this year. To be completely fair, there are very few options in the squad that can be considered safe, and Fofana is the most logical choice. But don't overdo it with the size of your stakes, as he is a work in progress.
Probable line-ups
Rennes: Samba, Brassier, Jacquet, Rouault, Frankowski, Merlin, Fofana, Rongier, Blas, Embolo, Lepaul
Lyon: Descamps, Niakhate, Mata, Maitland-Niles, Abner, Tessman, Sulc, Morton, Fofana, Merah, Tolisso
Anything else catch the eye?
We are witnessing something special with Lyon, as the Kids' financial crisis forced an administrative relegation mid-summer, forcing them to sell a number of key players to win their appeal. And to see them win three games in a row with a butchered squad and a caretaker manager is truly impressive.
But we believe it will be much harder to beat Rennes away, despite the mediocre performance from the hosts to date. The Rennais have always been a stronger host and will certainly show their real potential just like they did against Marseille. Therefore, we expect at least a goal from both sides and a draw at full-time.
GambleAware