Ligue 1 2022-23: Rennes vs PSG: Match prediction, injury news, head-to-head

The Parisien club are league leaders in the french league three points above RC Lens.

With just two victories in five games and a respectable run, Rennes are now ranked fourth in the standings. They are coming off a 2-1 loss to Clermont. The Les Rouges will now play a tough opponent on Sunday night with the hopes of avoiding a back-to-back loss that could hurt their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

While PSG soundly beat Anger 2-0 thanks to Lionel Messi's spectacular homecoming. The Argentine scored and made things easy for PSG with his performance as the team fell to Lens 3-1 in an unexpected loss. The Parisians will try to expand upon their points at the top of the table.

Kick-off: 1:15 am (IST), 7:45 pm (GMT)

Rennes form (all competitions): D-W-L-W-L

PSG form (all competitions): W-W-W-D-W

Players to watch

Rennes

Jeremy Doku

Doku is a talented forward with great confidence in his ability to outmuscle defenders. He is a young player whose burst of space could bother the PSG defence. During the attack, the player changes the game and poses a serious threat to PSG.

PSG

Lionel Messi

The World Cup winner's presence made the game more smooth, and PSG easily defeated Angers. When playing for PSG, Messi operates differently and looks to feed the ball upfront, which makes way for Neymar and Mbappe to score goals.

Match facts

• Rennes have not lost their last three home games against Paris (W1, D2), and the last team to not lose against PSG was Monaco between 2008 and 2015.
• PSG have 47 points from 18 Ligue 1 games, the most by any club since Paris themselves in 2015-16, Lyon, and 2006-05.

Injury and team news

Following their red cards against Clermont, Omari and Bourigeaud will serve a one-game suspension, while Terrier, who has an ACL injury, will accompany Xeka and Baptiste Santamaria, who are recovering from ankle injuries, in the injury room. In their absence, the substitutes will take over.

Hakimi, Mbappe, and Renato Sanchez will all be welcomed back at PSG. Marco Verratti missed the Angers game because he was still doubtful about his thigh injury. Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes are still recovering from their thigh and Achilies hill problems, respectively.

Head-to-head record

Matches: 85

Rennes: 27

Draws: 18

PSG: 58

Predicted lineup

Rennes (4-4-2): Mandanda; Traore, Wooh, Theate, Truffert; Majer, Ugochukwu, Tait; Doku, Kalimuendo, Gouiri.

PSG (3-4-2-1): Donnarumma; Hakimi; Marquinhos; Ramos; Bernat; Vitinha; Pereira; Ruiz; Messi; Mbappe; Neymar

Prediction

While PSG boasts the return of Lionel Messi, Hakimi, and Kylian Mbappe, Rennes will be without a few key players, and the Parisians will be seeking to break Rennes' home record. PSG won't have a lot to do in this match, but their porous defence has been a problem, and if they can't stop Rennes, it will be yet another discouraging night. However, PSG has a considerable advantage because of the team's top-notch assets.

Prediction: Rennes 1-3 PSG