Stade Rennais FC begin their European campaign on Wednesday with a trip to Austria to face SK Sturm Graz (21:00). This opening match of the UEFA Europa League league phase comes during a strong run of form for the French side.
Confidence restored
Julien Stéphan's team approaches this fixture with momentum after three consecutive Ligue 1 victories, including a win over Olympique de Marseille (1-0) this past weekend. This positive streak contrasts with the defeat suffered in their last away match in European competition, against Sunderland in August. The group appears to have regained defensive stability, conceding only three goals across these three recent wins.
The state of play
Their Austrian opponents, Sturm Graz, are also coming off two wins, the latest a home victory against LASK Linz (2-1). Manager Christian Ilzer will have to cope without striker Seedy Jatta, who is out with a shoulder injury. For his part, Julien Stéphan has a nearly full squad and could field an eleven similar to the one that beat Marseille, with Benjamin Samba in goal and an attacking line led by Ludovic Blas and Ibrahim Soumaré. Stade Rennais FC' last starting lineup was a 4-3-3. To see the full squad details, visit our squad section.
The competition context
This match marks the start of a new format for the Europa League, featuring an eight-matchday league phase. Every point earned away from home therefore carries extra weight for the remainder of the adventure. Stade Rennais FC, who reached the round of 16 last season, are again aiming for an ambitious run. Supporters will be watching to see if the team can translate its recent solidity to the continental stage. The game will be played at Graz's Merkur-Arena, where the atmosphere promises to be electric.
The match is scheduled for 21:00 on Wednesday, 16 September. A win would give the Bretons an excellent starting point in this single league before hosting their next European opponent.
