Rennes vs Celtic
Europa League Group E
5:55pm Thursday September
Stade de la Route-de-Lorient
Rennes head coach Julien Stephan considers since he warned his staff that getting from the team would be more difficult than last 34, Celtic are very close to Europa League rivals Lazio’s standard.
Celtic kick their group campaign in Brittany on Thursday while their Champions League conquerors, Cluj, take about the Italians.
Rennes reached the last 16 final season, supporting Dinamo Kiev and finishing before Jablonec and Astana , prior to beating Real Betis and dropping to Arsenal.
However, Stephan stated:”It will be totally different group from this past year, we think it’s a stronger group. They’re used to winning names, every year almost, they’ve won eight titles in a row.
“They’re a team who are generally in the Champions League and they’ve got huge experience with many internationals.
“We know they could play in the air and they are quite technical. They’re a very, very great team and have technical players like (Callum) McGregor, (Ryan) Christie, (James) Forrest, simply to mention a couple.
“They are well balanced and we understand how hard it’ll be but we are lucky to play at home and the supporters are going to play a major part in a potential win for all of us.
“I really do believe Celtic are among the favorites. So far as expertise they should be in a position to carry out well, possibly just behind Lazio.”
Stephan has dropped half of their group that won the French Cup but Rennes sit next in the table after beating leaders Paris Saint-Germain during their five matches.
“it is a new group, a new season, there’s a brand new story to be told and we need to build a story with a new group,” he explained. “We can not compare this year with last year, last year is history.
“We’re in the process of rebuilding and the team is evolving. We’ve had a very good start in the league and now we need to bring it into Europe.”
Christopher Jullien was declared fit for the game after sustaining a head injury from Hamilton.
The Frenchman and demanded medical attention and Marios Ogkmpoe clashed before he had been forced off.
If Neil Lennon chooses to rest Jullien hatem Abd Elhamed is compelling to get a start, after picking up a marathon knock, however, Leigh Griffiths didn’t travel.
Rennes losing 1-3 away from the 2011-12 Europa League group stages and are winless in both of the meetings with Celtic, drawing 1-1 at home.
Celtic are winless in their last seven away European matches against French resistance (D2 L5) since beating Nantes 3-1 in the 1966-67 European Cup last 16, en route to winning the trophy.
Including qualifiers, Rennes have dropped just one of the last 15 home games in European competitors (W8 D6), heading down 1-2 against Dynamo Kiev in previous year’s Europa League group stage.
In Champions League along with 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 in last year’s competition (1-0 in Rosenborg).
Celtic’s James Forrest has scored this year, such as in both legs of their Europa League qualifying victory against AIK.
Rennes have started quite well in Ligue 1. I hope that M’Baye Niang will not be playing. He is lightning fast, almost a version of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These guys can move and play, and that’s what Celtic fight against.
Celtic will be useful on the counter-attack, but their reputation is always the same. They get frightened when they go away from home. They do not understand whether to play with a game or not and where to pitch their defence.
They are going to have players that are technically gifted and speed out wide. Celtic have injuries that are defensive and will not threaten here.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
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