Stade Rennais FC now knows the eight teams it will face in the UEFA Europa League group stage this season. The draw, held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Friday, mapped out a challenging path for the French club.
The Breton side will travel to Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands while hosting Greek, Croatian, and Cypriot opponents. The exact fixture schedule and order will be confirmed by UEFA by Sunday at the latest.
The list of opponents is diverse and includes several clubs with substantial European experience. The most anticipated trip will likely be to Turin to face Juventus. The Italians, last season's Europa League finalists, are the most decorated team in the group.
At home, Stade Rennais FC supporters will see Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb, and Omonoia Nicosia. The away fixtures will take the team to the Czech Republic to play Sparta Prague, to Austria against Sturm Graz, to the Netherlands to face NEC Nijmegen, and to Greece to play OFI Crete. This expanded competition format promises a relentless rhythm until December.
This season marks Stade Rennais FC's return to the Europa League group stage after a year's absence. The club secured direct qualification by finishing fifth in the French league last season. The European journey will be a significant test of the squad's depth.
The matches will run parallel to the Ligue 1 campaign, where Rennis currently holds a place in the top six.
Stade Rennais FC is not the only French club that learned its fate on Friday. Olympique de Marseille, avoiding English teams, will travel to Scotland to face Celtic. Meanwhile, Olympique Lyonnais, which missed out on Champions League qualification, will host Crystal Palace at home.
For Lyon, this fixture marks the return to France of Pierre Sage, the former RC Lens manager, who now leads the London club. These draws ensure a diverse French representation in the competition this season.
The Stade Rennais FC squad will need to show great versatility to adapt to the different playing styles they will encounter. Travel to Central and Eastern Europe will require impeccable logistics and optimal recovery between matches. The first group stage outing will take Stade Rennais FC to Turin to face Juventus.
The team selection for these matches can be viewed on our squad page. The first group stage match is scheduled for the third week of September, following the international break.
