Two teams yet to suffer their first defeat in pre-season prepare for battle on Saturday afternoon, as Ligue 1 giants Rennes host Europa Conference League winners West Ham United at Roazhon Park.
Bruno Genesio's men most recently overcame Breton rivals Brest 1-0, while the Hammers shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge.
Match preview
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Staying local in their pre-season friendlies thus far, Rennes have commenced their summer preparations with a satisfactory two wins and a draw from three all-French encounters, starting with a 1-1 stalemate versus Ligue 2 new boys Concarneau.
A 1,000-strong crowd then turned up to Rennes' training centre to witness Genesio's side come from behind to beat Saint-Malo 2-1 thanks to Flavien Tait and Lovro Majer's efforts, before a solitary Ludovic Blas strike got the job done against Brest on Wednesday.
Starting as they mean to go on, Rennes will now cease clashes with their fellow Frenchmen until the start of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 campaign, as the visit of West Ham precedes a trip to Burton upon Trent to battle Nottingham Forest on August 2.
Consistently challenging in the upper echelons of the Ligue 1 rankings, Les Rouges et Noir fell short in their bid to return to the promised land of the Champions League last season, but by placing fourth with 68 points to their name, Europa League group-stage football awaits.
It remains to be seen whether Genesio's side will enter September's group-stage draw in Pot 1 or Pot 2, although should the latter scenario come to fruition, Saturday's game could very well act as a precursor to future European contests with West Ham.
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Following a trio of goal-laden victories over Boreham Wood, Perth Glory and Tottenham Hotspur, with no fewer than 13 goals in tow, West Ham were given a reality check upon their visit to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for last Saturday's date with Dagenham.
Twice the Irons went ahead through Maxwel Cornet and the exciting Divin Mubama - who has now netted in three successive pre-season matches - and twice they were pegged back, as Inih Effiong and a Syndey Ibie penalty rescued a draw for the hosts.
That four-goal stalemate brought an end to West Ham's victorious summer streak, and as is the case with Rennes, David Moyes's side are now leaving home comforts behind in what remains of their pre-season schedule.
Indeed, the Hammers finalise their preparations for the new term away to Bayer Leverkusen following Saturday's intriguing affair, which will mark their first clash with Rennes in any competition, and they boast a 50% success rate from previous meetings with French teams, notably dumping Lyon out of the Europa League quarter-finals two seasons ago.
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Team News
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With Steve Mandanda and Xeka battling their way back from calf and ankle concerns respectively, Rennes only have long-term ACL victim Martin Terrier guaranteed to be sitting out Saturday's friendly, and it could be another couple of months before the attacker makes his comeback.
Left-back Adrien Truffert, meanwhile, has also been dealing with an ankle injury, and it is still unclear whether the France international will be able to play a part following a setback in his recovery.
Genesio otherwise has a clean bill of health for the weekend, and the Rennes boss has confirmed that all of Enzo Le Fee, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Amine Gouiri should be in contention to feature for approximately half an hour after their international exploits.
Meanwhile, West Ham left plenty of their big-hitters at home for the recent draw with Dagenham, as all of Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Kurt Zouma and Emerson Palmieri were nowhere to be seen.
However, Moyes should recall most if not all of those players for the flight to Brittany, although Antonio and Scamacca's futures remain clouded in uncertainty, so Mubama could throw his hat into the ring for a starting role.
Former Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd will also expect to feature from the off against his old employers, while Paqueta should also make his return imminently as he battles back from a shoulder concern.
Rennes possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Assignon, Omari, Theate, Meling; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Majer; Doku, Abline, Blas
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Bowen, Soucek, Downes, Benrahma; Mubama, Ings
We say: Rennes 1-1 West Ham United
While there is nothing but pride on the line in pre-season, neither Rennes nor West Ham will be in any mood to lose their unbeaten streaks, and goals may be at a premium between two evenly-matched sides.
The Irons will no doubt benefit from having several key names return from well-earned rests, but with home turf on their side, Rennes can hold out for a draw this weekend.
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Ben Knapton
