Rennes vs Celtic
Europa League Group E
5:55pm Thursday 19th September
Stade de la Route-de-Lorient
Rennes head coach Julien Stephan believes Celtic are extremely near the normal of Europa League competitions Lazio as he warned his team that getting out of their group could be more difficult than last season.
Celtic kick off their group effort in Brittany on Thursday while Cluj, their Champions League conquerors, take on the Italians.
Rennes achieved the last 16 last season, supporting Dinamo Kiev and finishing , prior to beating Real Betis and dropping to Arsenal.
However, Stephan explained:”It will be entirely different group from last year, we think that it’s a stronger group. They are utilized to winning national titles they have won eight titles in a row.
“They’re a group that are generally at the Champions League and they have enormous experience with many internationals.
“We all know they can play at the air and they’re very technical. They’re a very, very great team and possess technical players like (Callum) McGregor, (Ryan) Christie, (James) Forrest, merely to mention a few.
“They’re nicely balanced and we know how difficult it’ll be but we are lucky to perform at house and the supporters are going to play a major part in a potential win for all of us.
“I really do believe Celtic are one of the favorites. So far as expertise they need to be able to perform well, perhaps just behind Lazio.”
Stephan has dropped half of the team which won the French Cup earlier this season but Rennes sit second in the table after beating leaders Paris Saint-Germain throughout their five matches.
“it is a new team, a new year, there is a brand new story to be informed and we need to construct a story with a brand new group,” he explained. “We can’t compare this year with last season, this past year is history.
“We’re in the process of fixing and the group is evolving. We’ve had a very good start in the league and now we need to bring it in to Europe.”
After sustaining a head injury against Hamilton christopher Jullien has been declared fit to your match.
The Frenchman and Marios Ogkmpoe and medical care clashed before he was forced off.
If Neil Lennon opts to break Jullien hatem Abd Elhamed is pushing to get a start, after picking up a marathon knock, however, Leigh Griffiths didn’t journey.
Rennes dropping 1-3 away from the 2011-12 Europa League group stages and are winless in each of their encounters drawing 1-1 at home.
Celtic are winless in their last seven away European games against French opposition (D2 L5) since hammering Nantes 3-1 in the 1966-67 European Cup last 16, en route to winning the trophy.
Including qualifiers, Rennes have lost one of their last 15 home games in European competitors (W8 D6), moving down 1-2 from Dynamo Kiev in last year’s Europa League group stage.
In Champions League along with Europa League matches combined, Celtic have won only three of their 45 away group stage games (W3 D11 L31), together with a few of the victories coming in last season’s contest (1-0 at Rosenborg).
The James Forrest of celtic has scored in each of his last four matches in European competition this season, such as in both legs of the Europa League qualifying victory against AIK.
Rennes have started well in Ligue 1. I am hoping that M’Baye Niang will not be enjoying. He is lightning quick a lesser variant of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These guys can move and play, and that is what Celtic fight against.
Celtic will be useful on the counter-attack, but their standing is always the same. They get scared when they journey away from your home. They do not know where to pitch their defence and if to perform a squeezing game or not.
They are going to have players that are technically gifted and speed out wide, where they’ll look to utilize. Celtic still have defensive traumas and won’t threaten here.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
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