- 1 Sturm Graz vs Rennes : ten points in Ligue 1 against the side that just brought down the Austrian leaders
- 2 Sturm Graz : a win over the leaders, but an uneven start to the season
- 3 Rennes : four matches unbeaten, a full squad and Lepaul already up and running
- 4 Europa League Prediction Sturm Graz vs Rennes
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information that moves
- 8 Your role
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the visuals…
Sturm Graz vs Rennes : ten points in Ligue 1 against the side that just brought down the Austrian leaders 
Rennes are sitting top of Ligue 1, for now, after four rounds with 10 points on the board. Three wins, one draw, no defeats.
Stade Rennais open their European campaign on Wednesday, 16 September, at the Merkur Arena in Graz, with kick-off at 21:00 CEST. Matchday one of the league phase for both teams.
The Bretons did not need to go through the qualifiers. Their sixth-place finish in Ligue 1 last May earned them direct entry.
Sturm Graz have had a far more chaotic summer. Beaten to the Austrian title by LASK, the club had set its sights on the Champions League league phase.
Hearts were knocked out in the second qualifying round, then Fenerbahce killed the project off in the third. Two defeats, 2-0 and 0-1, sent Fabio Ingolitsch’s side into the Europa League.
Last weekend, though, was a reminder that the Austrians can still show up in the big moments. Sturm beat LASK 2-1 at home on Sunday, with the visitors unbeaten and leading the league.
Gizo Mamageishvili struck in the 34th minute, Krystof Danek levelled in first-half added time. Oumar Diakite settled it in the 59th.
Rennes arrive on the back of a statement win at Roazhon Park. A goal from Adrien Thomasson in the 52nd minute was enough to beat Marseille 1-0 on Friday night.
The two clubs have never met in an official competition. This trip to Austria is a first in their history.
The odds give the Bretons a slight edge on paper, with a Rennes win priced at 1.96. With eight matchdays in the format, this opener already matters if they want a top-eight finish.
Sturm Graz : a win over the leaders, but an uneven start to the season 
Sturm’s Austrian season has not gone in a straight line. A 1-1 draw against Lustenau, then a 3-1 defeat to Rapid Vienna, had already planted a bit of doubt.
Sunday’s clash with LASK at least changed the mood. Beating the unbeaten league leaders 2-1 is still Sturm’s best result since the restart.
It means even more because it came at home. The Merkur Arena is once again a place where Sturm can set the terms.
Oumar Diakite deserves a special mention here. The attacking signing had been regarded as a doubt for this period, yet he delivered the decisive goal against LASK.
Midfielder Simon Seidl is the other clear threat in the Austrian setup. He has four assists in the league this season.
Up front, Nelson Weiper and Seedy Jatta have two goals each in the Austrian Bundesliga. The goals are spread around rather than piled onto one man.
Otar Kiteishvili’s return is the most interesting variable for Ingolitsch. The Georgian forward, who scored 15 goals last season, got back on the scoresheet in the cup earlier this month after a long spell out.
There are still injury issues for the hosts. Grgic is unavailable, while first-choice goalkeeper Chudjakow was still a doubt this week.
A goalkeeper question before a European night is never ideal. Helac is ready to step in if needed.
Sturm are also juggling league and Europe with no real breathing space. That sort of schedule bites harder when the squad depth is nowhere near as strong as the one they face tonight.
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Rennes : four matches unbeaten, a full squad and Lepaul already up and running 
Rennes have made their best start in Ligue 1 among their current group. 10 points from 12, with just one point dropped since the restart.
The first game did leave a sour taste. Ahead for long spells against PSG, the Bretons still coughed up a 2-2 draw in the closing minutes.
That display became a platform rather than a stumbling block. Le Mans were beaten 3-2, Angers lost 1-2, and Marseille were sent home from Roazhon Park with a 1-0 defeat on Friday.
Adrien Thomasson scored the winner against OM in the 52nd minute. The midfielder, back at the club this summer, has quickly re-established himself as one of Franck Haise’s key men.
Three straight wins over Marseille say plenty about Rennes’ resilience. They have handled three big tests in a row without losing.
Up front, Esteban Lepaul already has three Ligue 1 goals. Chased in the summer, the striker stayed put and is driving the attack.
The midfield is built around two former Marseille players, Valentin Rongier in the centre and Quentin Merlin on the left. Cresswell, brought in on loan from Toulouse, has settled into the heart of defence.
Boulaye Dia is on the UEFA A-list, along with every summer signing. Franck Haise has left nobody out of his European plans.
The summer exits have not thrown the squad off balance. Embolo has gone to Atlanta and centre-back Jacquet to Liverpool, without upsetting the Breton pecking order.
The injury picture is another clear plus. No absentees are being reported, with only Seidu and Cisse, who did not leave in the transfer window, still out of the competitive squad.
Likely Sturm Graz XI: Helac – Heil, Vallci, Koller, Soglo – Seidl, Weinhandl, Stankovic, Hodl – Jatta, Beganovic. Out: Grgic (injured). Doubts: Diakite, Chudjakow.
Likely Rennes XI: Samba – Frankowski, Cresswell, Ait-Boudlal (or Rouault), Merlin – Camara, Rongier, Thomasson – Blas, Lepaul, Al-Tamari.
Europa League Prediction Sturm Graz vs Rennes
Our prediction: Rennes to win
Rennes head to Austria with 10 points from 12 in Ligue 1 and no confirmed absentees. Sturm Graz, by contrast, dropped four points in their first two league matches before beating LASK and still have a question mark in goal.
The level of opposition Rennes have already dealt with since the restart also leans their way. Three straight tests against PSG, Angers and Marseille, and not a single defeat.
Esteban Lepaul already has three goals to his name and Adrien Thomasson just settled the battle with OM. Take Rennes to win at the Merkur Arena, with the odds at 1.96.
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