This Ligue 1 matchup sure has a spark to it, doesn't it? Let's talk shop.
On the keeper's side, we've got Steve Mandanda of Stade Rennais rocking a steady 6.80 rating with 9 saves under his belt. On the opposing turf, Yehvann Diouf of Stade de Reims puts up a slightly superior fight with an impressive 7.07 rating and 11 saves to his name.
Star power's not lacking here. Stade Rennais boasts the likes of Arnaud Kalimuendo with his stellar 7.88 rating. This lad's a terror in the box with 4 goals and 6 shots on target and he's not just about the glory - 85.7% passing accuracy tells us he plays the team game too. Then there's Benjamin Bourigeaud who, with a 7.35 rating, 2 goals and 4 shots on goal, is not to be taken lightly.
Reims, on the other hand, finds its champions in Junya Ito, who's bounded up to a 7.42 rating, putting the fear of the crossbar into goalkeepers with 2 shots on goal. Though goalless thus far, he’s playing his part with a 76.8% passing accuracy. Emmanuel Agbadou makes his presence known too with a 7.28 rating, a goal to his name and 83.2% passing accuracy.
Now, let's rewind a bit, shall we? Ok, Whoop, there it is - Rennais holds the upper hand historically against Reims, sealing a 3-1 victory back in November 2023, and bagging all points with a clean sheet in April 2023.
Adding an extra layer to the cake, Stade Rennais brings a regular season record of 12-10-11 to the table while Stade de Reims checks in with 12-8-13.
When it comes to their recent performances, Rennais tasted a bit of everything - victory, defeat and draw. Whereas Reims went through a rough patch, recently bagging just one victory amidst several defeats.
The betting gods seem to favor Rennais too—a tip of the hat to those paying close attention. With all this under consideration, and having a clear-eyed view of my crystal ball, here's the part you've been waiting for!
Albert’s Prediction: Stade Rennais by 2