Tottenham: What to expect from Rennes in the Conference League
By Aaron Coe
Tottenham Hotspur begins their European journey in earnest on Thursday in France versus Stade Rennais FC, in the Conference League, what can the Spurs expect from Rennes?
For the Spurs, this trip to France to open the group stage of the Europa Conference League represents likely their toughest test among the six matches. While technically not still a top-five league, Ligue 1 is still very good and Rennes is a solid midtable team. With this the first meeting between the two clubs, each remains a bit of a mystery to the other. So what can the Spurs expect from the Reindeer on Thursday?
Rennes is stable and organized in defense
Rennes has played six matches in all competitions this season and for five of those six matches, the Reindeer lined up the same back four. Hamari Traore, Loic Bade, Nayef Aguerd, and Birger Meling have been the starting back four most of the season.
The only reason the quartet did not start the last match versus Reims was that Bade had received a second yellow in the previous match against Angers and was unavailable.
On the whole, the back four have been solid as Rennes has gone won three, drawn one, and lost two in all competitions. Despite giving up four goals in their last two matches, the Reindeer have only conceded six and have a couple of clean sheets, including a 1-0 victory over Nantes in Ligue 1.
Whereas Tottenham is likely going to field a back four that have never played together in full, Rennes has one area of the pitch where they get some real consistency.