Rennes Vs Lazio Betting Tips: Lazio – 12 December 2019

Lazio can boost ailing qualification hopes with victory in France?

Ciro Immobile/Lazio ©imago images / ZUMA Press 11.12.2019

Rennes Vs Lazio

Thursday 12th December 2019 – 17:55 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Lazio to WIN
Odds: 9/10
Bookmaker: Unibet
UEFA Europa League Betting with 22Bet

(All betting odds displayed were correct as of 10th December 2019 at 22:50)

Preview: Victory in France, at Roazhon Park, is a minimum requirement for Lazio who trail in the race to finish second in a group already won by Celtic. The hosts, meanwhile, are already out, with Rennes consigned to last place irrespective of what transpires on Thursday.

Rennes Vs Lazio Live Stats & Betting Odds

 

Rennes Preview – Will any French resistance be forthcoming?

Following their run to the Round of 16 last season, naturally Rennes (4th – W0 D1 L4, GF3 GA8) would have harboured similar expectations this time around only to end up suffering the ignominy of exiting at the group stage. Their fate was ultimately sealed after slumping to a fourth straight defeat on Matchday 5, falling to a 3-1 loss at Celtic. All that remains now for Julien Stéphan and his dejected players is seeing a miserable campaign out in front of a home crowd, which is likely to be sparse.

Drawing 1-1 at home to Celtic in the very first game of the group was as good as it ever got. Defeats to Lazio (2-1), CFR Cluj (0-1 and 1-0) and Celtic (3-1) would follow leaving them languishing in last position, on a solitary point and cut eight adrift of second spot (five behind third-placed Lazio). In theory there should be an eagerness to at least avoid departing the competition without a win to their name, but, on the evidence produced from them thus far, even that prospect remains dubious.

If recent domestic form could somehow be replicated however, Rennes would command a great deal more respect. Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Angers was a third in succession in Ligue 1, and their fifth in the last six (W5 L1), rising to fourth in the table on the back of these exploits. It is four consecutive victories when at Roazhon Park meanwhile, which, while clearly very eye-catching, comes with a disclaimer: not a single clean sheet has been recorded, in any competition, at home in 2019/20 (10 matches – 8 of which producing both teams scoring).

 

Ciro Immobile First Goalscorer
10/3

Bet365

 

Lazio Preview – Progress dependent on victory and a Scottish favour?

Soaring to the heights of third in Serie A following a sensational victory over Juventus last weekend, in turn becoming the first team all season to inflict a loss of any kind on the reigning Italian champions. Lazio (3rd – W2 D0 L3, GF6 GA7) are quite simply flying right now. The mood in camp could take a turn for the worse, though, should Thursday not go according to script. Victory in France, along with CFR Cluj failing to win at Celtic, would seal qualification for the Italians; anything less and they are out of Europe altogether.

Believe it or not, Lazio were favourites to top this group initially. Qualification itself was almost viewed as a given considering the wealth of talent within their ranks. Yet a mixed start was followed by back-to-back 2-1 losses against Celtic (leading in both encounters), which very nearly did for them before making a serious breakthrough against CFR Cluj in Rome. The latter, secured after a nervy 1-0 success, enabling them to move back within three points and striking distance of the Romanians.

There will be no Stadio Olimpico advantage on this occasion, however. Lazio have been exceptional on home soil recently, winning and scoring at sheer will there, but have needed to grind out results on the road. In Serie A they have won three away games on the bounce, all via 2-1 scorelines. In Europe, however, Simone Inzaghi’s men would suffer a couple of 2-1 defeats in Scotland and Romania. That can only make three points here, regardless of how badly they crave them, far from guaranteed.

 

Rennes Vs Lazio Key Facts:

  • The competition has ended early for Rennes, with the French Ligue 1 club unable to finish any higher than fourth in the group after four defeats in five (D1 L4).
  • Italian side Lazio are seeking a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions, but have won only twice in this competition so far (W2 L3).
  • In Italy on Matchday 2, Rennes opened the scoring through Jeremy Monel but were denied any points after goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile completed a Lazio comeback (2-1).

 

Betting Summary

Lazio (9/10 Unibet) have qualified for the knockout rounds of this competition on each of their previous six group stage appearances, which is a fine record but one that could abruptly end unless a win in France, coupled with a helping hand from Celtic, comes to fruition. The first part is in their own hands, of course, and it should help to face a Rennes (7/2 BetFred) side already out of contention having lost four of their five group encounters thus far.

So, how much resistance can we realistically expect from the hosts here? That is not easy to gauge; keen to finish a poor campaign on a high or eager to get it all over and done with? Either way, Lazio simply must rate their chances of success in this game what with the tremendous form they are in. Saturday’s superb victory over Juventus the latest in a long line of victories that sees them arrive in this crucial fixture boasting ample momentum.

Both teams scoring has been a regular by-product of Rennes’ home matches this season. Adding a Lazio win to that particular selection is the value alternative at 11/4 (PaddyPower).