Lille vs Rennes prediction, H2H and probable lineups - 3 January 2026
One of the headline clashes of Ligue 1’s 17th round unfolds this Saturday at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, where Lille will host Rennes. I’m backing a bet on goals in this encounter, which promises a high chance of success.
Match preview
Lille wrapped up 2025 in style with a four-match winning streak in Ligue 1, and they head into the new year’s first fixture eager to cement their place in the European qualification spots. Bruno Génésio’s men have shown remarkable consistency and attacking firepower—33 goals scored make Les Dogues one of the three most prolific sides in the league. Their latest triumph, a thrilling 4-3 win over Auxerre, was a testament to their offensive flair and growing confidence.
However, Lille’s squad will be noticeably weakened against Rennes: suspensions for Ngoy and Perraud, injuries to Alexsandro and Touré, plus the absence of several players away at the Africa Cup of Nations, all limit rotation options. Still, the presence of Haraldsson and Giroud provides the hosts with enough quality to decide the outcome. Given their strong record at the Pierre-Mauroy, Lille are targeting at least an extension of their unbeaten run.
Rennes, meanwhile, bounced back from a heavy defeat to PSG (0-5) by ending the year with back-to-back wins over Brest and Le Sablé in the French Cup. Under Habib Beye, the team has displayed maturity, especially in attack, racking up five wins in their last six Ligue 1 outings. This season, Rennes already have 10 more points than at the same stage in the previous two campaigns, underlining their progress and European ambitions.
The visitors are also missing several key players, including Fofana and Aït Boudlal, who are away at AFCON. However, Beye can still rely on a deep squad and a potent attacking group led by Embolo and Le Pol. The only thing working against Rennes is the head-to-head record: they haven’t beaten Lille in their last 12 meetings.
Probable lineups
- Lille: Ozer, Meunier, Fernandez, Santos, Verdonk, Bouaddi, Bentaleb, Mbappé, Haraldsson, Sahraoui, Giroud
- Rennes: Samba, Brassier, Rouault, Jaquet, Tamari, Cissé, Rongier, Camara, Frankowski, Embolo, Le Pol
Match facts and head-to-head
- Lille are unbeaten in their last 12 matches against Rennes (6 wins, 6 draws).
- Both teams have scored in five of the last six Ligue 1 matches.
- Lille have won eight of their last nine Ligue 1 games when scoring first.
Prediction
This fixture promises to be a spectacle: both teams are in fine form, score freely, and are battling for European spots. Despite absences, both Lille and Rennes have the attacking quality to find the net, so expect goals at both ends.
