H2H: Rennes vs Lazio – Prediction (Europa League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Rennes host Lazio in this UEFA Europa League (UEL) Group E clash, but are winless in their five previous competitive fixtures against Italian opposition (D2, L3). Encouragingly though, the two games played on home soil have at least seen them draw at both half-time and full-time. Additionally, ‘Les Rennais’ can take further confidence from the fact they have failed to score in just two of their last 17 UEL/UEFA Cup home matches. However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 14 competitive home fixtures, a statistic that will surely concern coach Julien Stephan.

Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio enter this clash hoping to put an end to a dreadful streak of four straight away losses in this competition. However, on the domestic front, Lazio are now on a run of seven consecutive league victories, scoring 2.86 goals per game on average. With that good form behind them, they will have reason to believe they can gain the edge in their finely-balanced European away record against French opposition (W4, D2, L4). This game could be a tight clash in any case, as none of Lazio’s previous eight competitive road trips have been settled by a margin of 2+ goals.

Players to watch: Mbaye Niang has scored Rennes’ only home goal this UEL group stage – six of his eight competitive strikes this season have come before the hour mark. Lazio’s star striker Ciro Immobile leads the Serie A scoring charts with 17 goals – he’s netted the opener in four of the last five competitive club games he’s scored in.

Stat attack: Rennes have netted under 1.5 goals in each of their last six UEL fixtures. Lazio have kept just one clean sheet across their last 15 UEL away matches. Lazio are on a run of 16 UEL games without a draw.