Tettey out against Saint-Étienne

The epidemic of thigh injuries that cripples the Rennes squad since the beginning of the season has been striking again this week-end. Sure, according to the latest news, this week’s two injures are only lightly touched, enough however for them to miss Rennes’ trip to Saint-Étienne, against a direct competitor for Europe.

Therefore, the forfeit of Alexander Tettey is the main information coming from the announcement of the squad called by Frédéric Antonetti. Injured against Caen on Wednesday, the Norwegian suffers with a “not too serious” muscle damage, according to the words of the manager, but serious enough to make him miss another league game, he who had seemed re-energised against Caen and when he came off the bench in Valenciennes.
Also a midfielder, also down with a thigh injury is youngster Tongo Doumbia. The former Chateauroux man had felt a thigh pain last Sunday, but still finished the game. On Wednesday, he was part of the squad but was finally left out of the match sheet, having failed to fully recover. This time, Doumbia is not included in the squad.

To cover for these absences, Frédéric Antonetti will not be able to count on any return. Yacine Brahimi, who will return to full training next Tuesday, is still lacking fitness. If everything was to go as planned, the French-Algerian could hope to features in the final two game weeks against Nancy and Lille.
With Théophile-Catherine still suffering with his fibula and Kembo unlikely to play again this season, Frédéric Antonetti will once again have to call for youngsters from the reserve to complete his squad. Young Ghanaian Kamal Issah therefore returns in the squad, after already appearing for the last trip to Monaco. Another player returns, Franck Julienne, a forward who also showed several times this seasons that he is able to play well at midfield.

In Saint-Étienne, Christophe Galtier will have to do without his best goal scorer, Dimitri Payet. After the match against Lille, the French international felt a sharp knee pain which handicapped him in training at the end of this week. However, Blaise Matuidi will return at midfield after missing the last two weeks.

Stade rennais FC

- Goalkeepers : Carrasso, Douchez
- Defenders : Boye, Danzé, Jebbour, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Souprayen
- Midfielders : Dalmat, Issah, Lemoine, Leroy, Mandjeck, M’Vila
- Forwards : Boukari, Camara, Julienne, Montaño, Verhoek

• Injured : Apam (knee), Brahimi (thigh), Doumbia (thigh), Kembo (thigh), Marveaux (thigh), Tettey (thigh), Théophile-Catherine (fibula)
• Suspended : n/a
• Manager’s decision : Diallo, Dembélé, Foulquier, Kandji, Caro

AS Saint-Étienne

- Goalkeepers : Janot, Moulin
- Defenders : Bocanegra, Ebondo, Marchal, Monsoreau, Nery, Sall
- Midfielders : Alonso, Batlles, Goulham, Guilavogui, Matuidi, Perrin
- Forwards : Aubameyang, Rivière, Sako, Sanogo

• Injured : André, Landrin (thigh), Payet (knee), Ravet (foot)