Kana-Biyik returns against Lens

Ligue 1, Stade rennais - Lens, Saturday, 19:00 CET. Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik’s return from injury is the main information from the publication of a Rennes squad in which Brahimi, Kembo and Mangane are still missing. In Lens, Laszlo Bölöni will have to do without his captain Adil Hermach.

Frédéric Antonetti announced the names of the eighteen players to face RC Lens this Saturday.

Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik’s return from injury is the main satisfaction at Rennes, and will permit the reinforcement of a defensive sector cruelly lacking depth over the last few weeks. It remains to be seen whether the French-Cameroonese will start the game, and who will pair with him. A partnership with John Boye at centre-back would allow Kévin Théophile-Catherine to return to left back instead of Samuel Souprayen. But Antonetti could also decide to send the Ghanaian international back to the bench and trust a Kana-Biyik - Théophile-Catherine parternship already used earlier this season.
Kana-Biyik’s recovery, however, will push youngster Yassine Jebbour out of the squad. He will reinforce the Reserve squad this week-end.

No other change compared to the group that travelled to Toulouse last Sunday. Expected to return this Saturday, Jirès Kembo is still to completely recover of his thigh injury and will miss out once more. Brahimi and Mangane could return next week. Ill during the week, Yann M’Vila will be in the squad as expected.

As for Laszlo Bölöni, the former Stade Rennais manager will have to do without his captain, Adil Hermach, not fully recovered from his foot injury. The Romanian manager is also left without his striker Toifilou Maoulida, banned after his dismissal last week-end. Finally, Éric Chelle, Geoffrey Doumeng and David Pollet have been left to play with Lens’ Reserve.

Stade rennais FC

- Goalkeepers: Carrasso, Douchez
- Defenders : Boye, Danzé, Kana-Biyik, Souprayen, Théophile-Catherine
- Midfielders : Dalmat, Doumbia, Lemoine, Leroy, Mandjeck, M’Vila, Tettey
- Forwards : Boukari, Camara, Montaño, Verhoek

• Inhured : Apam (knee), Marveaux (thigh), Mangane (thigh), Kembo (thigh), Brahimi (thigh)
• Suspended : n/a
• Manager’s decision : Diallo, Dembélé, Jebbour, Kandji, Caro, Issah, Julienne

RC Lens

- Goalkeepers : Kasraoui, Runje
- Defenders : Aurier, Bedimo, Queudrue, Touré, Varane, Yahia
- Midfielders : Démont, Keita, Kovacevic, Roudet, Sertic, Sow
- Forwards : Akalé, Eduardo, Jemaa, Joseph-Monrose

• Injured : Hermach (fitness), Situ (fitness)
• Suspended: Maoulida
• Manager’s decision : Atrous, Chelle, Doumeng, Kondogbia, Pollet