PSG vs Rennes Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

We are at the Parc des Princes for a PSG vs Rennes prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. PSG are 13 points clear at the summit of Ligue 1. Another domestic championship is going to be a cakewalk for Luis Enrique’s men but they now face an in-form Rennes with one eye on the Europa League on Thursday. French expert Steve Wyss brings us his preview and best bets for this Sunday afternoon prime time showdown in the capital.

Our PSG vs Rennes prediction is for PSG to win the match 3-1.

PSG vs Rennes Prediction, Team News, Standings and Lineups Preview

1. PSG vs Rennes Tip 1: PSG -1 Asian Handicap
2. PSG vs Rennes Tip 2: PSG Half Time Result
3. PSG vs Rennes Tip 3: Over 3 Asian Goals

In this article:

• PSG vs Rennes Team News and Possible Lineups
• The PSG vs Rennes, Ligue 1 Standings Prediction
• PSG vs Rennes Match Stats
• PSG Fixtures
• Rennes Fixtures
• Safer Gambling

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PSG vs Rennes Tip 1: Hosts should raise their game against better class opponents

France, Ligue 1, Sunday 25th February, 16:05 (UK)

PSG are going to win yet another domestic title. They haven’t even been at their best this season but still have a 13-point gap to second-placed Brest. The simple fact is that the chasing pack are far too mediocre to challenge them this season, and it’s going to be a cakewalk. PSG can be tough to predict in terms of how motivated they are to produce their best football.

This feels like a good spot for them to showcase their full ability, though. Everyone is talking about this fixture as a ‘tricky’ one due to Rennes’ good form. Yet, I think Les Parisians will be fired up to put them in their place with no other distractions this week or next.

Rennes have done very well under the guidance of Julien Stephen, who returned for a second managerial stint at the club in mid-November. They have won every match domestically since the start of 2024, but if you look at their fixture list, it’s been relatively soft. They got well beaten by AC Milan 3-0 in the Europa League and play this match just three days after the second leg.

We don’t know the outcome of that game at the time of writing, but it will surely impact them both physically and possibly mentally. PSG should, at the very least, win the game, so taking them on a -1 Asian Handicap makes the most sense. There are a lot of aspects in their favour, and their overall class and quality should be too much for Rennes.

• PSG vs Rennes Tip 1: PSG -1 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.85
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 10/10

PSG vs Rennes Tip 2: PSG to come out of the traps quickly against tired Rennes

In what is a remarkable statistic, PSG have yet to lose at half-time in any Ligue 1 match so far this season. They’ve been winning on 15 occasions out of 22 matches and converted those leads into victories in all but one match.

On home turf, Les Parisians have been leading at half-time in 8/11 affairs, and they are an underrated team for coming out of the traps quickly. Sometimes, in the past, this team has been known for being quite lazy and waiting until the second half to motor ahead, but under Luis Enrique, there has been a clear strategy to put the opposition under pressure right from the word go.

Rennes, in contrast, have been losing at half-time more times than they’ve been winning. Their overall season stats must be taken with a pinch of salt because they do look like a different outfit under Julien Stephan, but this looks like a good spot to oppose them in the first 45 minutes. They head into the game on the back of a Europa League match vs AC Milan, which took place less than 72 hours before.

Rennes might be looking to conserve energy to make sure they manage themselves correctly for the whole match. It’s difficult to see them coming out with a fast and hot start. PSG can take advantage of any potential Rennes’ frailties, and I expect the Ligue 1 leaders to be leading at the interval. The 2.00 on offer that PSG are ahead at half-time looks more than generous for a home game.

• PSG vs Rennes Tip 2: PSG Half Time Result (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

PSG vs Rennes Tip 3: Rennes could contribute towards entertaining encounter

This match just screams goals. PSG domestic games have been pretty high-scoring for most of the season, especially since the start of 2024. Their 2-0 win vs Nantes last week was the first time in five domestic games that they went under 2.5 goals, and you have to go all the way back to the end of September for less than two goals to be scored in ANY of their games.

Even against the notoriously ‘unders’ machine that is Real Sociedad, they managed to net twice in last week’s Champions League. PSG home fixtures average 3.70 goals per game, with 10 out of 11 going over 2.5.

I have noticed a trend that fewer teams in France are ‘parking the bus’ against PSG these days. Their defence can be ‘got at’ as Brest proved a few weeks ago when they came from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 at the Parc des Princes. PSG can lack defensive discipline and switch off sometimes.

Rennes know they aren’t going to be able to grind out a 0-0 draw or even something like a 1-1 type result. They are going to have to net multiple goals to probably avoid defeat, so I like the idea of backing the overs in the Asian goal market of 3. There’s a chance the visitors could contribute towards this line, although PSG are more than capable of covering it by themselves if needed.

I just suspect Rennes will come here with a fairly positive game plan and, at some stage, will have to open up anyway. This is not one of those fixtures where I expect a tight and turgid tussle. The attractive footballing qualities of both sides should come to the forefront.

• PSG vs Rennes Tip 3: Over 3 Asian Goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.99
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 10/10

PSG vs Rennes Prediction odds via bet365 as at 08:30 February 18th 2024. Odds may now differ.

PSG Team News and Possible Lineups: Mbappe to return to the starting XI?

With no upcoming midweek game and a full week to prepare for this fixture, PSG can line up as strong as they want to here.

Kylian Mbappe will leave the club in the summer and was dropped to the bench last week vs Nantes. He should return to the team, although the hosts still have injury doubts about defenders Milan Skriniar and Presenel Kimpembe. Rennes midfielder Enzo Le Fee is their only confirmed casualty at this stage.

The visitors play in the Europa League on Thursday night. Arnaud Kalimuando returns from suspension to start up front.

PSG possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma, Hernandez, Danilo, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Zaire-Emery, Ugarte, Vitinha, Barcola, Mbappe, Kolo-Muani

Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda, Theate, Belocian, Omari, Seidu, Salah, Santamaria, Matusiwa, Blas, Terrier, Kalimuendo

The Predicted PSG vs Rennes, Ligue 1 Standings by BETSiE

Our in-house predictive model, BETSiE, has had a go at predicting the Ligue 1 standings ahead of the PSG vs Rennes, currently 1st vs 7th, fixture by utilising the underlying data from the 2023/24 season up until this point.

For more league-specific BETSiE content including standings, probabilities and predictions, visit her page here – it’s worth it.

PSG vs Rennes Standings Prediction

Match Stats: PSG still dominant domestically

• PSG have only lost one league match all season and are unbeaten domestically since mid September.
• Rennes have won six Ligue 1 games in a row.
• Both sides rank in the top four for overall average goals per game at 3.2 and 2.7 respectively.
• PSG are the cleanest side in the division picking up just 29 cards all season.

PSG Fixtures: UCL second-leg looms large

• Vs Monaco (A)
• Vs Real Sociedad (A)
• Vs Reims (H)
• Vs Nice (H) French Cup
• Vs Montpellier (A)

Rennes Fixtures: Breton derby next up at home

• Vs Le Puy-en-Velay (A) French Cup
• Vs Lorient (H)
• Vs Lille (A)
• Vs Marseille (H)
• Vs Strasbourg (A)

SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.