Strasbourg vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-08-24 15:00.
[p]Strasbourg started their campaign with a solid 1-1 draw at Montpellier last week, and will now look to build on that in their first contest in front of their home fans, who should arrive in a buoyant mood after seeing their side sign striker SĂ©kou Mara from Southampton this week in a ÂŁ10m move. Having scored just 38 league goals last season, boss Liam Rosenior – who arrived in the summer after departing Hull – will hope Mara can add more firepower to their attack. [/p]
[p]The hosts haven’t always enjoyed their opening games here, winning their first home league game of a campaign just once in six seasons (D2, L3). They now welcome Rennes with the opportunity to build on that record, while they could also make it three H2Hs in a row without defeat (W1, D1) for the first time since a run of four back in August 1999! [/p]
[p]A chaotic summer for Rennes saw them lose Désiré Doué, Guela Doué, Enzo Le Fée, and stalwart Martin Terrier, yet they pulled off a standout win in the opening round when downing Lyon 3-0. Despite head coach Julien Stephan admitting he was very pleased with the win, he stated he wouldn’t be letting his side get “carried away”, but there’s no doubt he’d be delighted if he can get one over his former side en route to successive league wins for the first time since February.  [/p]
[p]While three points will be the target for the away side, they’ll be confident of at least securing one based on their record in their opening trips of the campaign across recent seasons. Rennes are undefeated in each of the past five such matches (W1, D4), with remarkably each of their last four away openers finishing with the same 1-1 scoreline. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra picked up where he left off, netting in last week’s opener after also scoring in the previous campaign’s finale – both goals arrived after half-time. New Rennes signing Henrik Meister made a flying start to life at his new club, scoring on his debut despite only joining the action in the 87th minute against Lyon.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Each of the last eight H2Hs have produced at least two match goals. [/p]
[p][i]Written by David H[/i][/p]