Prediction: Rennes vs Montpellier

Prediction: Rennes win

Best Odds: 26/25

Bookmaker: 888sport

European football is slowly but surely starting to return with a brand new season after an incredibly short absence, and the French Ligue 1 is one of the first really elite leagues within the continent to start back up again. While COVID-19 has ensured that life will continue to feel pretty strange for many months and potentially even years to come, we’re still here to talk about the beautiful game – and today, we’ll be discussing the impending clash between Rennes and Montpellier.

Rennes

Prior to lockdown and the Ligue 1 season being suspended, Rennes were sitting comfortably in 3rd place and looked like they could legitimately push for 2nd if Marseille continued to drop points. Just before things started getting serious they did lose a pretty big game in the Coupe de France semi-final against St Etienne before their big victory over Montpellier, but they are officially back on the board for the 2020/21 campaign after a tense 1-1 draw against Lille less than a week ago.

Team News

Traore and Grenier were both absent for unknown reasons last weekend and fans are waiting to see what their status will be for this clash. Elsewhere, Boey is suspended after his red card against Lille with Lea Siliki and Nyamsi both ruled out through injury.

Montpellier

Montpellier have made a name for themselves in the last decade or so as the ultimate underdogs of French football, but their inconsistency really did cost them towards the end of last season and they wound up finishing in 8th place, just below Champions League semi-finalists Lyon. Due to scheduling conflicts they have yet to take part in their first official game of the new league season, with their last win coming in the form of a 3-0 success over Strasbourg on February 29th.

Team News

Mavididi has been tipped to make an appearance with the status of Andy Delort still being unknown as he continues to recover from COVID-19. Elsewhere, Omlin has shaken off a hamstring injury and should feature in the starting XI.

Factors to Consider

• In their last meeting back in March, Rennes destroyed Montpellier 5-0.
• Rennes have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six games.
• Montpellier have won two, drawn one and lost three of their last six games.
• Rennes have scored 11 goals and conceded five in their last six games.
• Montpellier have scored five and conceded eight in their last six games.

Conclusion

Psychologically speaking, the impact of Rennes’ big win over Montpellier just a matter of months ago is bound to have some kind of impact – as well as the fact that Montpellier haven’t played in a competitive game since then. In terms of sheer quality, though, we just feel as if the hosts are going to have too much for the underdogs. It should be a bit tighter than it was at the start of March, but Rennes have too many weapons in their arsenal not to come away with all three points.

Prediction: Rennes win

Best Odds: 26/25

Bookmaker: 888sport