European chasers Rennes welcome basement battlers Troyes to Roazhon Park on Sunday afternoon, with the visitors on the brink of relegation to Ligue 2.
Needing a win to keep their season alive, Troyes find themselves 12 points from safety with four matches remaining, while Rennes sit three points shy of the top five.
Match preview
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It would not be unfair to say that Rennes have been wildly inconsistent in recent months, registering a solitary draw in their previous 20 league outings.
Having recorded nine wins and 10 losses since a rare 1-1 draw with Lille back in November, Bruno Genesio's side have gained a reputation as one of the most unpredictable teams in the French top flight.
Still, Les Rennais remain within touching distance of the European places as the campaign draws to a close, with a three-point gap between them and fifth-placed Lille, who currently occupy the Europa Conference League qualification spot.
Despite the team's unpredictability, Rennes have managed to establish a sense of consistency at Roazhon Park, winning 13 of their 17 home league games this season.
Thanks largely to a brace from 20-year-old Belgium starlet Jeremy Doku, the Brittany outfit thrashed already-relegated Angers 4-2 in their previous home clash, so they will be confident of dispatching another team destined for the drop this weekend.
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Troyes know that anything other than a victory on Sunday will confirm their relegation to Ligue 2, although Patrick Kisnorbo's side will also be relegated if Auxerre avoid defeat to Brest, or if Nantes beat Toulouse.
With the odds firmly stacked against them, Troyes are already planning for life in the second tier, but they will be eager to finish the campaign on a positive note after enduring a wretched run of results.
Indeed, ESTAC enter Sunday's showdown on a 17-match winless run, having recorded four draws and 13 losses since their last victory, with a solitary win coming in their previous 26 league encounters.
Following last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Troyes also head to Roazhon Park on a run of five losses in six games, making it easy to understand why Kisnorbo's men find themselves in such a predicament.
Having lost seven of their last eight away matches – ending a run of seven successive away defeats with a 2-2 draw at Nantes last month – Troyes will need a miracle to beat the drop.
Team News
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Rennes are still without long-term injury absentees Martin Terrier and Xeka, while young left-back Adrien Truffert is expected to miss Sunday's clash due to an ankle problem.
Former PSG forward Arnaud Kalimuendo will be looking to enhance his tally of seven goals and five assists this weekend, with Amine Gouiri – who has racked up 13 goals and seven assists this term – supporting the lone striker.
Benjamin Bourigeaud will continue in midfield after scoring in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Nice, while veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda will keep his place between the sticks.
Troyes, on the other hand, will have to make do without the injured duo of Abdu Conte and Renaud Ripart on Sunday, as both players have missed the past five matches.
Having bagged four goals and five assists this season, Mama Balde is arguably ESTAC's biggest attacking threat, so he will continue to support striker Ike Ugbo.
Legendary centre-back Adil Rami will line up alongside Tanguy Zoukrou and Erik Palmer-Brown in the visitors' backline, while Lucien Agoume and Xavier Chavalerin are expected to anchor the midfield.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Traore, Omari, Theate, Belocian; Ugochukwu; Doku, Bourigeaud, Majer, Gouiri; Kalimuendo
Troyes possible starting lineup:
Gallon; Zoukrou, Rami, Palmer-Brown; Bruus, Agoume, Chavalerin, Larouci; Odobert, Balde; Ugbo
We say: Rennes 3-1 Troyes
With relegation looming, Troyes have no choice but to throw everything at Rennes on Sunday, but the visitors will leave themselves exposed at the back as they push for the win.
Accordingly, we expect Rennes to take advantage of a desperate Troyes outfit, whose fate looks set to be sealed by an eighth defeat in nine games on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
