Sevilla vs Rennes predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s game in the UEFA Champions League. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as UCL football returns to the Sanchez-Pizjuan.
- DATE: Wednesday 28th October 2020
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan
- COMPETITION: UEFA Champions League (Group Stage)
Sevilla vs Rennes Preview
Europa League winners Sevilla host Champions League first timers Stade Rennais in Matchday 2 of Group E on Wednesday night. This marks the return of Champions League football at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán after over two and a half years and is also Rennes’ first away trip in the elite European competition.
It was a point apiece for both teams in the first matchday last week. Sevilla played out a goalless stalemate in London against Chelsea while Rennes were held at home to Krasnodar in the battle of the Champions League debutants.
Sevilla were unbeaten domestically since February but have now lost back to back matches in LaLiga. On Saturday, Lopetegui’s men went down 1-0 at home to Eibar. The 54-year-old changed five faces from the team that started in London including the front trio. However a misfiring game in the final third meant that Los Nervionenses have now gone four matches without a win in all competitions, failing to score in three of them.
Kike García’s finish before half time prompted Lopetegui to bring on Lucas Ocampos at the break but the forward missed a sitter in the late stages of the match, ending all hopes of salvaging anything. Overall it’s been an unexpectedly underwhelming week at Sevilla and so the importance of Wednesday night’s game has increased.
There’s better news for Sevilla as their French opponents themselves are also winless in four matches, most recently losing their first Ligue 1 match of the season to Angers on Friday. The Brittany club are currently third in the league table, the same position they finished last season in a shortened French league enabling them to qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time.
Like his counterpart, Julien Stéphan also rotated five players from last Tuesday’s game but in the end it didn’t pay off as Angers ran out 2-1 winners at Roazhon Park after Adrien Hunou gave Rennes the lead in the first half. Les Rouge et Noir have been scoring for fun this season with 16 goals in eight matches but defensive woes are apparent with only one clean sheet during the same period.
This might be the first ever meeting between the two teams but there’s positive history for the visitors in Seville. Both Rennes and Sevilla fans must have relished the French side’s 3-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa League Round of 32 in 2019 only a few miles down south from Wednesday night’s venue. That was the last time Rennes won a European away fixture as they have picked up four straight losses on their continental travels since then.
It’s also a homecoming for Rennes midfielder Steven Nzonzi. The 31-year-old featured in over 100 games for Sevilla during his spell in Andalusia from 2015 to 2018.
Head to Head
- This will be the first ever competitive meeting between the clubs.
Team News
Like last week, defenders Sergio Escudero and Jules Koundé are unavailable for Sevilla. Regular starters Ocampos, Fernando and Jordán should return to the starting eleven after the weekend’s misadventure.
Rennes’ young defender Faitout Maouassa and main striker M’Baye Niang are both ruled out due to ankle injuries.
Predicted Sevilla Starting Lineup:
Bono – Navas, Gómez, Carlos, Acuña – Jordán, Fernando, Rakitić – Ocampos, de Jong, Suso (4-3-3)
Predicted Rennes Starting Lineup:
Gomis – Traoré, Da Silva, Aguerd, Dalbert – Bourigeaud, Nzonzi, Camavinga – Hunou, Guirassy, Terrier (4-3-3)
Sevilla vs Rennes Predictions
Score Prediction: Sevilla 2-1 Rennes
Even with the poor form, the home side will be favourites for this clash. This season’s stats speak that both teams like to dominate possession. As such, a lot will depend on the battles in the middle of the park and with quality midfielders in both camps, it promises to be interesting. However, Sevilla will know that Rennes’ problems lie in the defensive third and they are heavily fancied to end their goal drought on Wednesday.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips (18+)
You can view our tips for this match and all the others in Europe this week involving Spanish teams by signing up to follow our All Competitions Portfolio for free on Tipstrr. You can view our profit/loss stats and success ratios there.
Please note, we don’t guarantee any long-term gains if you’re backing our tips. If you do choose to bet, only stake what you can afford to lose. See BeGambleAware for more on responsible gambling.
Read our latest Champions League & Europa League match previews.
