Stade Rennais Vs Atletico Madrid – UEFA Europa League Preview
Stade Route de Lorient, Rennais will see Stade Rennais face 2010 Europa League winners Atletico Madrid in a group I clash of the UEFA Europa League on September 29, 2011.
Fortress http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Du-c11689 Lorient
Heading into this game, Stade Rennais are in great form domestically but are yet to prove their worth on the European stage. In their first group game of this season’s Europa League, Bretons lost 2-1 to Italian side Fiorentina away from home.
However, Rennais should take comfort with the fact that they have not been beaten at the Route de Lorient in the last five games in Europe. This will be the first time the two sides meet in a European competition and the French side would be looking to draw
first blood.
However, Les Bretons should take into account the fact that Atletico Madrid have a strong record against French opposition in Europe. In ten games played against the Ligue 1 sides,
Los Rojiblancos have lost just once and have won five times which means that the Spaniards are in with a chance of ending Rennais’ unbeaten streak in Europe.
Frederic Antonetti has admitted that his team is finding it hard to cope with a busy schedule in which they have to play a game after every three games. However, the French tactician has vowed to field his best squad in the game against At. Madrid as he
feels that qualifying for Europe makes no sense if you do not put an effort to win it.
Looking beyond the Barca sucker punch
At the weekend, Gregorio Manzano’s men were thrashed 5-0 by the reigning European and La Liga champions http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrián-López-c3736 has asked his teammates to let go of whatever that happened on that night and concentrate on
the Europa League tie against a Rennais side that is in good form.
While talking to the media, the Spaniard said that the team has already put behind the defeat to Barcelona and admitted that Madrid lost to the best side in the world.
“We have been working hard to focus on Thursday’s game and try to avoid making the same mistakes we did against Barca,” the striker said.
Ahead of the league encounter with Seville at the weekend, Manzano has left behind a few players for the trip to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Koke-c21262 and Silvio are all not going to feature in the European fixture.
Team news
Stade Rennais
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-Pitroipa-c19052 to add
flair to the Rennais attack.
Atletico Madrid
Apart from the players rested, Manzano will have a fairly strong squad to test Stade Rennais. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Radamel-Falcao-c30276 will be expected to play a crucial role as Madrid look to end Rennais’ unbeaten run in Europe.
Probable starting XI
Rennes
Costil; Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Théophile-Catherine, Mavinga; Tettey, Mvila - Pitroipa, Doumbia (or S. Dalmat), Kembo; Montaño
Atletico Madrid
Courtois; Perea, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-c11058
Prediction
The effects of the demoralising defeat would be on the minds of the players as they face Rennais. However, with abundant experience of playing in Europe and a good recent away record in the competition, Atletico Madrid might have enough to end Rennais’ undefeated
run at home.
Predicted final score: Rennais 1-2 Madrid
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