Rennes welcome OFI to Roazhon Park on Thursday 15 October, kick-off 20:00 UK, with two sides at different ends of an early Europa League table. OFI won their opening league-stage game 2-0 against Hoffenheim and sit 9th of 36 on three points. Rennes drew 0-0 at Sturm Graz and are 17th on one, so the home side need a win to climb.
Both sides have kept a clean sheet in every game they have played in the competition's league stage so far. One of those records will end on Thursday. A Rennes win would take them to four points, an OFI win would move the visitors to six, and a draw would leave them on two and four. A Rennes win would take them to four points, an OFI win would move the visitors to six, and a draw would leave them on two and four.
Rennes have been busy and mixed lately. They beat Auxerre 4-1 at home on 11 October, a result that ended a short wobble, after a 4-0 defeat at Lyon on 19 September. Between those came the goalless draw at Sturm Graz in Europe, and before that a 1-0 win over Marseille and a 2-1 win at Angers. Of their last ten games they have won six, drawn two and lost two. Their form at Roazhon Park has been the stronger half of it, with a 1-0 win over Marseille and the 4-1 win over Auxerre in the last five, while away from home they have a 2-1 win at Angers, the goalless draw at Sturm Graz and the heavy defeat at Lyon to show for their trips.
OFI have played three games across qualifying and the league stage and won all three without conceding. They beat CSKA Sofia 3-0 at home and 2-0 away, then Hoffenheim 2-0. That is seven goals scored and none against. Two of those wins came at home, where they beat CSKA Sofia 3-0 and Hoffenheim 2-0, and the other was a 2-0 win away at CSKA Sofia. They have scored at least twice in every game, which is the standard Rennes will have to match.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Samba; Frankowski, Rouault, Cresswell, Nagida; Szymanski, Camara, Thomasson; Tamari, Blas, Lepaul
OFI possible starting lineup:
Christogeorgos; Kostoulas, Krizmanic, Poungouras, Dickmann; Androutsos, Bouchalakis, Athanasiou; Cantalapiedra, Fountas, Kodro
Rennes' front three is expected to be Mousa Tamari, Ludovic Blas and Estéban Lepaul, with the 4-1 win over Auxerre behind them, and they face an OFI side that has yet to concede in three games.
Taxiarchis Fountas and Aitor Cantalapiedra lead the OFI attack, which has scored seven without reply across its three games.
Behind them, Rennes' predicted midfield is Szymanski, Camara and Thomasson, with Samba in goal and a back four of Frankowski, Rouault, Cresswell and Nagida. OFI are expected to go with Cantalapiedra, Fountas and Kodro in attack, in front of Androutsos, Bouchalakis and Athanasiou.
The referee is Andrea Colombo, who has taken one game this season and averaged three yellow cards, one red card and 19 fouls.
Rennes have home advantage and the pressure of a one-point start, while OFI arrive with three clean sheets in three. A tight match is the likeliest outcome, and a draw is in play given how well both sides have defended so far. We lean towards a narrow Rennes win at Roazhon Park.
A narrow home win would end OFI's run without conceding, which makes the first goal the one that decides the game.
Prediction: Rennes 1-0 OFI