Diarra and Sané called as reinforcement

After a good overall performance against the Atlético on Thursday (1-1), Fédéric Antonetti’s men will have their work cut out once again with a trip on the pitch of the defending French champion, the Lille Olympique Sporting Club of Rudi Garcia.
Doubtful over the last few days, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik is finally included in the list of nineteen players that will travel in the North of France this Sunday. The French-Cameroonese, who suffered with a painful adductor, has been declared able to take part in the game against Lille
However, the trip on the pitch of the « Dogues » will happen without Stéphane Dalmat. Suffering with spasms after the Europa League game, the midfielder spent the night at the hospital on Thursday evening. Fortunately, the medical examination hasn’t revealed anything major, but Frédéric Antonetti preferred not to take any risk with his player’s health.

The Stade Rennais is playing its seventh game in just three weeks, and the organisms are being put under much pressure since a few days. As proven by this injury list that seems to get longer every day.
On his side, Kévin Théophile-Catherine is suspended for the game after having received three yellow cards in six games (in Dijon, Marseille and against Nancy). Meanwhile, Apam is still following his personal fitness program. However, Frédéric Antonetti will enjoy the return of Chris Mavinga in the squad. Suffering with a gastro-enteritis and out of the squad last Thursday against the Atlético, the young Rennes defender seems to be back to full fitness.

Although he won’t be travelling to Lille, Yacine Brahimi should be returning to training next Monday, except for a negative evolution of his situation. The Rennes midfielder will then have two weeks to get back to full fitness before facing the FC Lorient of Christian Gourcuff.
Finally, youngsters Fantamady Diarra and Abdoulaye Sané come to strengthen the attacking line of Frédéric Antonetti, handicapped since a few weeks by the injuries of Razak Boukari and Yacine Brahimi.

In Lille, Rudi Garcia will have to compose his team without two usual major players of his squad. Indeed, Aurelien Chedjou is still suffering with a pulled thigh muscle, since his team’s victory against Saint-Etienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (3-1) on September 14th, and he will only return after the international break. As for Dimitri Payet, he has a meniscus injury and underwent surgery two weeks ago, and therefore isn’t able to play at the moment. Finally, having suffered periostitis at the end of July, Tulio De Melo is yet to recover from his recurrent injury and hasn’t played in a single match so far this season. It is also good to note that the defending French champion had two more days than Rennes to recover, having played its Champions League game on Tuesday, against Turkish side Trabzonspor (1-1).
In the league table, Lille is two points behind the SRFC, with 13 points. The LOSC is currently on a 5 draws run (including 4 in Ligue 1) in all competitions. During the eighth game week, the FC Lorient of Christian Gourcuff had come to clinch a draw in the dying seconds of the game. A draw in the North of France would certainly be seen as a success by Frédéric Antonetti. This game between two European teams seems to trigger a rather enthusiastic reception in the Nord. Indeed, this game which is one of the biggest oppositions of the ninth game week will be played in front of a capacity stadium at the Stadium Lille Métropole. It will be the fourth time this season that the stadium of Villeneuve d’Ascq will be full, after the games against Montpellier, Marseille and Sochaux. Finally, former international goalkeeper Bernard Lama will give the kick-off of this game at 17:00. The keeper played for both clubs, spending a season in Rennes during the 2000-2001 season.

Stade rennais FC

- Goalkeepers : Costil, Diallo
- Defenders : Danzé, Foulquier, Jebbour, Kana-Biyik, Mavinga
- Midfielders : Doumbia, Féret, Mandjeck, M’Vila, Pajot, Tettey
- Forwards : Diarra, Hadji, Kembo, Montaño, Pitroipa, Sané

• Injured : Apam (knee), Boukari (shoulder), Mangane (ankle), Brahimi (ankle), Boye (thigh)
• Suspended : Théophile-Catherine
• Manager’s decision : Dalmat (rest), N’Diaye, Kandji, Doucouré, Issah, Rouger, Sissoko

Lille OSC

- Goalkeepers : Enyeama, Landreau
- Defenders : Basa, Béria, Bonnart, Debuchy, Digne, Rozehnal, Souaré
- Midfielders : Balmont, Cole, Gueye, Hazard, Mavuba, Obraniak, Pedretti
- Forwards : Bruno, Jelen, Rodelin, Sow

• Injured : Chedjou (thigh), Payet (meniscus), De Melo (periostitis)
• Suspended : n/a
• Manager’s decision : Mouko, Oukidja