Rennes vs Lens Predictions

• Fewer than three goals have been scored in three of Rennes’ last five home league games
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in six of Lens’ last 10 away Ligue 1 clashes
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in 13 of the last 15 meetings between these clubs

Breton derby loss should have alarm bells ringing

Rennes missed a big opportunity to inject some momentum into their stuttering season and may come up short against a capable Lens side that appear to be gelling under their new coach Pierre Sage.

Habib Beye’s side didn’t draw a match after he took the reins last January, winning eight and losing seven of their final 15 Ligue 1 games to finish a dismal 12th in the table. But they have now drawn two if their last three games after failing to hold on to early leads at Angers and Nantes.

Last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Stade de la Beaujoire was particularly galling for Beye as his side were two goals up after 35 minutes in a Derby Breton. He and his team failed to shut the game down and paid the penalty in stoppage time for multiple pieces of poor defending.

Sage is the flavour of the month at Lens

Lens will begin the game one place above Rennes in the table and there is a good chance that they can dig out a result that keeps them there if they play as well as they did against Lille last week.

Sage’s side stormed to a 3-0 home win with goals from Wesley Said, Florian Thauvin and Rayan Fofana, but it could easily have been five or six. Sage will have been just as pleased with hos his defenders kept a free-scoring Lille side that had netted a league-high 13 goals in their first four Ligue 1 fixtures in check.

Lens’ defence could have a big say in matters on Sunday too with a tight match expected as long as Rennes’ address their issues at the back. All-but two of the last 15 clashes between these clubs have not seen a third goal, so that looks like an outstanding trend-based play at the odds with a 1-1 draw just favoured in correct score betting because Rennes are yet to lose at home this season.