Rennes vs Nimes
23rd February 1600hrs
Football – France – Ligue 1
Pick Rennes
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 11/8 odds taken 1900 GMT, Saturday 22 February

Rennes are clinging on to the third and final Champions League spot whilst opponents Nimes are just a point above the bottom three. It means both teams need the win for very different reasons.

Table of Contents

1 Rennes Preview – Can Rennes put recent slump behind them to finish the weekend in control of third place?
2 Nimes Preview – Will Nimes continue their incredible run and make it five wins in a row?
3 Rennes vs Nimes Betting Advice

Rennes Preview – Can Rennes put recent slump behind them to finish the weekend in control of third place?

The battle for third place and qualification for the Champions League is essentially the biggest story at the top of Ligue 1. PSG are going to win another title and despite losing on Saturday Marseille are nine points clear in second and looking very good to finish there with 13 games to play. Rennes do not have such cushions and were only one point ahead of Lille coming into this weekend with a host of other clubs within striking distance should Julian Stephan’s men slip up.

The gap between themselves and the clubs behind them has narrowed in recent weeks due to three games without a win and also three games without a goal for Rennes.

Our betting prediction:

Rennes win and BTTS

3/1

Bet at Bet365

Losing away to Lille at the beginning of February was a damaging result in many ways for Rennes having won nine of their previous 12 before that. They have since drawn with Brest and lost to Reims – both games that they would have hoped to have got something from against teams who are currently in the bottom half of the league.

One advantage they do have over Lille is that they have played two fewer home games than their rivals.

Nimes Preview – Will Nimes continue their incredible run and make it five wins in a row?

At the start of the year you would have gotten long odds on Nimes being a Ligue 1 club at the start of next season. With just three wins in their first 21 matches it was looking extremely ominous for Nimes. To their immense credit they have given themselves hope and four straight wins had pulled them out the bottom three coming into the weekend’s fixtures. A brilliant 3-1 win at home to Monaco was the catalyst for further victories against Dijon, Nice and Angers.

Three of those wins have come at home and it’s now four wins in their last five at the Stade des Costieres. Indeed, all but one of Nimes’ wins this season have come at home.

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The one exception to that was the 3-1 success away at Nice. It’s taken Nimes until February for them to register a first success on the road but it’s now something for them to build on. It brought an end a run of five straight away defeats. However, Nimes have picked up some valuable points on the road against the likes of Lille and Monaco – so Rennes will have to be wary.

If they can picked up another result here it would ensure they finish the weekend outside the relegation zone.

Rennes vs Nimes Betting Advice

Whilst it’s Rennes who are riding high in Ligue 1 and Nimes threatened with relegation, it’s the visitors who are in much better form coming into this game. A draw would be a pleasing enough result for Nimes but you sense that Rennes really have to get back to winning ways for their own confidence with some big games coming up.

Rennes are looking to do the double over this opponent having won narrowly away to Nimes earlier in the season.

Key Facts – Rennes vs Nimes Betting Tip

Rennes have not scored in any of their last three Ligue 1 games and are just a point above Lille
Having won only three of their first 21 matches, Nimes have won their last four league games
It was a 1-0 win for Rennes when the sides met earlier in the season

Whilst it’s been a slog in recent weeks for Rennes their home form remains pretty solid. Six wins in their last eight at home and Marseille being the only team to have won here since October suggests they may just have enough to get their first win in four matches.

The best betting odds for Rennes vs Nimes

Rennes to win: 3/5 at Bet365
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Nimes to win: 6/1 at Bet365