Lille – Rennes: direct fight for Europe at Stade Pierre-Mauroy 
Saturday night, Lille and Rennes kick off 2026 with a big game in the race for European places. Both teams finished 2025 on a high and know matches like this can decide things in spring.
Lille: strong home momentum 
Lille arrive with confidence. Four straight Ligue 1 wins to end the year, including a spectacular win at Auxerre, have put the Dogues up near the top. Bruno Genesio’s unit looks well drilled, sharp in attack and rarely caught out when they set the pace.
At Pierre-Mauroy, Lille hurt you early. When the northerners score first, they usually shut up shop at the back. Their attacking play remains a major strength, with a goals tally that puts them among the league’s most prolific sides.
Not everything’s perfect. The squad is thinner — injuries, suspensions and AFCON absences. Still, Lille have certainties, notably Olivier Giroud’s experience and Hákon Haraldsson’s activity inside the last thirty metres.
Rennes: regained confidence, but a serious test 
Rennes bounced back after a heavy pasting in Paris. The Bretons rattled off two wins before the break, finding calm and, crucially, efficiency. Over the past weeks their Ligue 1 form has been strong, keeping them in touch with the European pack.
Habib Beye has found a balance — a more compact block and quick transitions forward. Offensively Rennes have weapons, but the trip to Lille is a proper test, especially given recent head-to-heads between the clubs.
Rennes haven’t beaten the Dogues in ages. Twelve games without a win, all competitions included — a stat that weighs on them heading into this match.
Likely line-ups
Lille : Ozer, Meunier, Fernandes, Santos, Verdonk, Bouaddi, Bentaleb, Mbappé, Haraldsson, Sahraoui, Giroud
Rennes : Samba, Brassier, Rouault, Jacquet, Tamari, Cissé, Rongier, Camara, Frankowski, Embolo, Le Paul
What to watch
- Lille are on a winning run and score a lot at home.
- Rennes arrive confident but struggle on this ground.
- Both sides have significant absences because of AFCON.
- The tempo could be high from the first whistle.
Football Prediction Lille vs Rennes
Both teams to score
Lille and Rennes both have attacking weapons that can decide a game. The Dogues press hard at home, but Rennes have shown they can hit back, even against organised blocks. In that setup, an open match with chances at both ends looks likely, without an obvious winner.
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