They’re in quite a Metz.

By: Shazback | August 25th, 2007

Rennes are going to be hosts to Metz later today, so let’s see what any Rennes fans can expect from the game.

Metz are not really in top gear yet, and the Ligue 2 champions are last in Ligue 1, with only 1 point taken from 4 games, thanks to a 0-0 home draw with Paris. Apart from that draw, Metz have only scored 1 goal, in a 1-2 home loss to Lille. Metz’s on-the-road record is encouraging… for Rennes : no goals scored, 3 goals conceded in two games, against Le Mans and Monaco, making Metz one of the worst away teams in the league.

Rennes, on the other hand, seem to be getting better. After losing their first match 0-2 to Nancy, Rennes managed to force Marseille to a 0-0 away draw. And the last two games have seen Rennes find short patches of form, allowing Rennes to fetch a generous 3 points from Saint-Etienne’s visit to Brittany, and then a point from Nice, respectively 1-0 and 1-1.

And I can’t see hierarchy being upset today. Rennes have just added Wiltord to a side that’s gaining momentum, and even though Mensah, Jeunechamp and the young Danzé are injured, I doubt Metz’s attack force will find many flaws in Rennes’ defence, since Metz’s strang midfielder Gygax has joined Barbosa, Cardy, and Bassong in the injury wing.

Metz are sticking to the same squad that saw them take only 1 point in 4 games, even though it was in the last one, with only Djiba returning from injury to replace Bessat. Rennes’ manager, Pierre Dréossi, is also keeping his squad similar to previous games, only Borne entering the starting line-up to replace Mensah. Rennes’ bench and attack have suddenly got a lot deeper though. Not only has Wiltord joined, and will be on the bench, but new boy from Marseille Pagis is returning from injury.

I’m expecting Rennes to have to run the game against a Metz side that is lacking confidence, and both teams seem to reflect this approach through their formations : Metz are expected to field a 5-3-2 with a very defensive midfield, and I’m expecting them to put balls into the blender, whilst Rennes are probably fielding a 4-4-2 with a balanced midfield, counting on M’Bia to relieve any pressure on the back four, and Leroy to animate the attack.

The benches are where the real difference lies. Dréossi has only announced 6 or his 7 subs, but 3 of them are strikers (Thomert, Badiane and, of course Wiltord), 2 are midfielders (Didot and Marveaux), the last sub being number 2 goalkeeper Luzi (I’m expecting Dréossi to add Oniangue to the bench, just in case Borne or any other defender is having a bad match). Metz manager Francis De Taddeo’s 7 subs have been announced, and apart from strikers Cissé (not this one, this one) and Gueye, they are all intended to fill defensive positions, from goalkeeper to (in the most attacking case) defensive midfielder.

Wiltord’s arrival will boost Briand, I think, and Pagis’ return will cause Metz’s defence a few problems. I’m going to be ambitious and say that Metz won’t manage to close out the match, and after a goal quite early on, the score will stay at 1-0 until the last 20 minutes, when Rennes’s attack will have a new edge thanks to Marveaux and Wiltord, and Wiltord will start his second coming at Rennes with a goal and an assist, helping Rennes win 3-0.

Line-ups (predictions):

Rennes :

Starting XI : Pouplin – Edman, Borne, Hansson, Fanni – Cheyrou (Capt.), M’Bia, Sorlin, Leroy – Briand, Pagis
Subs : Luzi – Oniangue – Didot, Mensah – Badiane, Thomert, Wiltord

Metz :

Starting XI : Marichez (Capt.) – C.Gueye, Strasser, P.Diop, Delhommeau, Leoni – François, Agouazi, Renouard – Aguirre, N’Diaye
Subs : Trivino – Delgado, Vivian – Djiba, Pjanic – P.Cissé, B.Gueye

Rennes – Metz will be played at the Stade de la Route de Lorient in Rennes at 20:00 French Time on Saturday 25th of August 2007 (GMT+1, so that’s 7PM in the UK, 4PM in EDT USA, 11AM in PDT USA, I think), and will not broadcast because Canal+ don’t care about Rennes, nor about Metz, but you can follow live internet broadcasts, and a resumé of the game will be shown at 22:30 French Time on Canal+Sports, and on Sunday 26th of August on France 2 at 12:00 French Time and 13:30 French Time.