Rennes v Panathinaikos Prediction: More Kalimuendo pain for visitors

The top two in Europa League Group F face each other in France on Thursday (17:45), as Panathinaikos look to overtake Rennes as leaders.

Rennes have picked up six points from their first three games, including a 2-1 win over Panathinaikos in Athens last time out, while the Greek side are 1-1-1 so far.

Team News

Rennes could ring the changes after a 2-0 defeat at Nice, with Arnaud Kalimuendo and Baptiste Santamaria among those eyeing up starts.

There will certainly be a change in goal, after Steve Mandanda limped out of the stadium on Sunday. Gauthier Gallon is therefore in line to make his debut, following his summer switch from Troyes.

Panathinaikos are still without Erik Palmer-Brown and Hordur Magnusson in defence, but Andraz Sporar and Bernard should return to the starting XI after beginning Saturday's 2-1 win at Lamia on the bench.

Match Odds

Rennes can be backed at 7/10 for the victory, while Panathinaikos are 4/1 to win away, with the draw at 11/4.

Both teams to score again is 8/11.

Rennes to win and over 2.5 goals @ 8/5

Defensive deficiencies have haunted Rennes in the last month, with the French side last recording a clean sheet on September 24th - conceding 11 goals in seven games since.

A poor run of form has produced just two wins in that period - a 3-1 win at home to Nantes, and the 2-1 in Greece.

However, three of the four defeats they have suffered since the start of October have come away from home, with their home form solid throughout the season.

Indeed, only reigning Ligue 1 champions PSG have got the better of Rennes at their own ground, and they have scored in all seven home games this season, including at least two in five of them.

Panathinaikos should be confident of unsettling a nervy backline, but their two toughest away games of the season - against Braga and Marseille in Champions League qualifiers - saw them concede twice in each, and the Rennes forward line should be too much for them on Thursday.

Arnaud Kalimuendo to score @ 9/5

Rennes tend to share the goals out among the forwards, so you can take your pick between three or four on this one. But with Kalimuendo looking likely to return to the starting XI in place of Martin Terrier, who made his first start since January 2nd on Sunday, the France U-21 international is decent value to increase his Europa League tally this season.

Kalimunedo scored what turned out to be a pivotal goal in the reverse fixture, doubling the French side's lead before Fotis Ioannidis pulled one back in the 61st minute.

The 21-year-old scored seven times last season, and an encouraging start to last month with club and country should inspire him to push on as he faces further competition for a starting spot from Terrier.

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