Krasnodar and Rennes will play on Wednesday in Group E of the Champions League, with an Europa League qualification spot being the prize for the potential winner. Both teams have been struggling lately and are out of contention for a Top 2 finish – amassing just one point each in the first four rounds.
Krasnodar has lost 7 of its last 8 games in all competitions, including three losses in the Champions League: 0-4 against Chelsea, 1-2 and 2-3 against Sevilla. The team is obviously not in a good spot, but will take comfort in the fact that Rennes isn’t doing much better.
Rennes are in horrid form themselves, losing 4 consecutive matches until drawing 1-1 at Strasbourg over the weekend. But that was hardly an impressive result considering that Strasbourg had a man sent off in the 40th minute, when they were leading 1-0. Rennes has had an identical Champions League experience with Krasnodar so far, losing all three matches aside from the 1-1 draw against the Russians.
Team news & lineups:
Petrov, Vilhena, Stotskiy and Safonov will be unavailable for Krasnodar. Rennes will miss Rugani, Terrier, Aguerd and Martin, while Guirassy is doubtful.
Krasnodar: Gorodov – Smolnikov, Martynovich, Kaio, Chernov – Gazinskiy, Olsson – Wanderson, Utkin, Cabella – Berg
Rennes: Gomis – Traore, Silva, Nyamsi, Maouassa – Camavinga, Nzonzi, Bourigeaud – Doku, Guirassy, Siliki
Both sides have been in wretched form lately and it seems fair to expect that there will be little separating the two in this match. The previous meeting in France a few weeks ago ended 1-1. Rennes was a bit better then, but was also playing at home – that advantage will be taken away in the Russian cold (note that Krasnodar allows a number of fans in the stands, just like Rennes did).
With the added pressure of this being a deciding game for Europa League qualification, I am going to consider the draw a likely result. I see neither team being very confident creating something, and I see both rather cautious and wary of making a mistake.
My tip will be the draw, I reckon it’s worth a fair try with small – medium stakes. Prediction: Krasnodar – Rennes 1-1.
Pick: Draw
Odds: 3.45 @ Unibet
Stake: 3
Possible profit: 7.35
Event date: 2 December