Stade Rennais FC face Juventus in Turin this Thursday in the third matchday of the Europa League group stage. The game at the Allianz Stadium kicks off at 18:45, with the French side aiming to improve their four-point tally and halt a damaging run of five consecutive defeats.

The context is challenging for Stade Rennais FC, who are on a poor run. Their last outing was a 4-3 loss at Paris FC on 18 October, part of a streak of five straight defeats in Ligue 1. This worrying domestic form, with zero wins and zero draws in the last five matches, contrasts with their two Europa League wins against OFI (2-1) and Auxerre (4-1). Striker Esteban Lepaul, who scored a hat-trick of penalties against Paris FC, is the team's main threat with seven goals in seven appearances this season. He was also decisive in Europe last week against OFI, scoring after Mahamadou Nagida had equalised and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal had secured the win.

A historic challenge

The task in Turin is daunting, as Stade Rennais FC have never won in Italy in four previous attempts. The last meeting between the clubs was the 1999 Intertoto Cup final, lost by the French side (4-2 on aggregate). Juventus will be looking to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 Serie A defeat to Lazio at the weekend. Italian manager Luciano Spalletti will be suspended for the match.

Stade Rennais FC coach Franck Haise has yet to confirm his lineup. He must organise a solid defence, likely marshalled by Charlie Cresswell, to contain the threat of Randal Kolo Muani. The French Juventus forward is in good form, involved in five goals in his last five European appearances. “I have been involved in five goals in my last five appearances between the Champions League and the Europa League,” Kolo Muani said.

For Stade Rennais FC, the objective will be to keep Juventus at bay for as long as possible. The data shows the Breton club has scored 75% of its Europa League goals this season between the 61st and 90th minutes of play. Conversely, they have conceded 63% of their league goals in the first half-hour of matches, an early vulnerability they cannot afford in Turin. This run of league defeats also includes losses to Laval (1-0) and Lyon (4-0). Stade Rennais FC's next challenge is already set: after this Italian trip to face Juventus on Thursday 22 October, the fixtures schedule resumes in Ligue 1. For now, the objective is clear: to bring back valuable points from Turin this Thursday, 22 October.