by Villarreal and Rennes are playing this Thursday for first place in group F of the Europa League, on the last day of this phase to which both teams arrive already classified, although the Castellón team only needs to win while their rivals have enough with the tie.
That first place is vital for the development of the competition, since the team that achieves it saves the round of 32 and goes directly to the round of 16while the second, in addition to playing it, will be paired with one of the teams that They arrive at the competition eliminated from the Champions League.
Although both teams are not at their best, Rennes is the leader of Group F with 12 points and Villarreal has 10, while Greek Panathinaikos and Israeli Maccabi Haifa have four and two, respectively. Marcelino García Toral’s team comes to the game after a streak of two bad resultsby accumulating a draw against Maccabi Haifa and the defeat against Real Sociedad in the League.
That victory that he needs as a visitor is a goal that he has achieved this season in five games, two in the League, two in the Copa del Rey and one in the Europa League against Maccabi Haifa.
The people from Castellón maintain the absence of long-term injuries such as Yeremy Pino and Denis Suárez, who have recently been joined by midfielder Santi Comesaña, while Alfonso Pedraza is suspended for this match and Alberto Moreno and Francis Coquelin have entered the squad list after overcoming their physical discomfort.
Regarding the possible eleven, this could be the one formed by Pepe Reina in goal, in defense he would be accompanied by Juan Foyth, Raúl Albiol, Jorge Cuenca and Adrià Altimira, in the midfield they would be Dani Parejo, Étienne Capoue, Álex Baena, Ilias Akomach , José Morales and Gerard Moreno or Ben Brereton.
Without the same tension as in Lens-Sevilla on Tuesday – the Spanish fans were even banned for security reasons until just before the start of the match -, A Rennes in low times in the French League will defend the group lead at its Roazhon Park stadium.
Rennes’ excellent international service record contrasts with its delicate situation in Ligue 1, thirteenth, three points from relegation. Just three weeks ago, veteran Bruno Genesio was replaced by Julien Stéphan in search of a new direction. HoweverSince Stéphan’s return to Rennes – he already directed it between 2018 and 2021 – the results have gone from more to less.
They beat Reims in the championship on November 26 (3-1) and, four days later, Maccabi Haifa (0-3) in the Europa League, but then had two consecutive defeats in the League: Marseille (2-0) and Monaco (1-2, four days ago).
In any case, Stéphan will have the entire group at his disposal, which includes the French world champion Steve Mandanda (38-year-old goalkeeper), the veteran Serbian pivot Nemanja Matic and a final third of the field with a lot of potential. Amine Gouiri (23 years old), Arnaud Kalimuendo (21) and Ludovic Blas (25) join left-footed winger Adrien Truffert (23 years old and full international).
Probable lineups:
Rennes: Commanding; Wooh, Belocian, Theate; Bourigeaud, Matic, Le Fée, Truffert; Gouiri, Kalimuendo, Blas.
Villarreal: Pepe Reina; Foyth, Albiol, Jorge Cuenca, Altimira, Parejo, Capoue, Álex Baena, Ilias Akomach, Morales, Gerard Moreno or Ben Brereton.
Referee: Atilla Karaoglan (Türkiye)
Stadium: Roazhon Park
hour: 18:45 CET (17:45 GMT). –
