Rennes vs OFI Crete - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to enactment connected different awesome Roazhon Park show for their location faithful, Rennes of France clash with Greek minnows OFI Crete connected Thursday nighttime successful the League Phase of the Europa League.

Les Rouge et Noirs were forced to settee for a share of the continental points astatine Sturm Graz anterior to the planetary pause, whilst O Omilos enjoyed an outstanding home occurrence implicit German broadside Hoffenheim.

Match preview

Following a sixth-placed decorativeness successful Ligue 1 past season, Rennes are backmost connected the Europa League signifier for the archetypal clip since 2023-24, with the French nine enduring a frustrating commencement to their League Phase run successful Graz past month.

Despite having implicit 60% possession and taking 23 shots connected September 16, Les Rouge et Noirs were held to a goalless gully astatine Sturm Graz - a astonishing misfire for an onslaught purring connected the home scene.

In fact, Rennes are the astir potent guardant enactment successful the French apical formation truthful acold with 12 goals crossed six matches, with Franck Haise's troops scoring connected 10 occasions successful 4 Roazhon Park contests.

A quartet of moments to observe arrived for Les Rennais supporters connected October 11, erstwhile France planetary Esteban Lepaul netted a superb brace successful a 4-1 thrashing of relegation-tipped Auxerre.

Losing conscionable 1 of their 7 competitory fixtures (W4 D2) successful 2026-27 to date, Rennes are sitting beauteous successful 3rd spot successful the Ligue 1 standings, conscionable a azygous constituent down aboriginal pacesetters Monaco.

Despite ne'er lifting their home top-flight title, OFI Crete are proudly waving the emblem for Greece successful the Europa League aft winning the Greece Cup successful April - the club's archetypal large trophy successful astir 4 decades.

For a comparative underdog connected the continental stage, O Omilos person made an exceptional commencement to their overseas adventure, winning each of their 3 European matches this play by a combined scoreline of 7-0.

Whilst a five-goal aggregate triumph implicit Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia was awesome successful its ain right, OFI Crete truly burst into the Europa League spotlight past month, erstwhile erstwhile Barcelona youngster Aitor Cantalapiedra starred and scored successful a 2-0 triumph implicit Hoffenheim.

O Omilos's signifier has dipped somewhat since that historical triumph implicit the Bundesliga outfit, though, with Thursday's visitors collecting conscionable 1 constituent from caller Greece Super League battles against Asteras Tripolis (2-2) and AEK Athens (0-3).

After briefs managerial stints astatine Olympiacos, NFC Volos and Panathinaikos, OFI Crete caput manager Christos Kontis yet has his feet firmly nether the array astatine a Greek club, with the 51-year-old approaching a afloat twelvemonth successful charge. 

Rennes Europa League form:

D

Rennes signifier (all competitions):

W W W D L W

OFI Crete Europa League form:

W

OFI Crete signifier (all competitions):

W W W W D L

Team News

Rennes got done Sunday's clash with Auxerre unscathed, however, determination could beryllium immoderate alterations to the starting XI for Thursday night.

Mahamadou Nagida pipped Quentin Merlin to the left-back relation connected the weekend, with the French defender dropped from the squad wholly aft his mediocre show successful the decision by Lyon connected September 19.

Playing a bit-part relation for the hosts since his summertime power from Sunderland, Eliezer Mayenda could gain a uncommon commencement successful this one.

OFI Crete person a fig of fittingness concerns to ponder, with Aaron Iseka sidelined for a fewer weeks owed to a thigh injury.

Reducing the options of O Omilos astatine the back, Christos Sielis is recovering from his ain thigh-related contented sustained earlier this month.

Into his eighth consecutive play astatine OFI Crete, Nikos Marinakis is yet to diagnostic successful 2026-27 due to the fact that of an injury.

Rennes imaginable starting lineup:

Samba; Reynolds, Cresswell, Rouault, Nagida; Thomasson, Rongier, Camara; Mayenda, Soumare, Lepaul

OFI Crete imaginable starting lineup:

Christogeorgos; Kostoulas, Poungouras, Krizmanic; Dickmann, Kanellopoulos, Bouchalakis, Athanasiou; Nuss, Cantalapiedra, Kodro

We say: Rennes 3-1 OFI Crete

Defeating Bundesliga broadside Hoffenheim past month, OFI Crete person proven their quality to earnestly disrupt top-tier Europa League opposition.

However, Rennes person been simply sensational astatine Roazhon Park truthful acold this play and should beryllium excessively beardown for their Greek visitors successful the end.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.