Juventus aim to maintain perfect Europa League start against Rennes

Juventus welcome Stade Rennais on Thursday seeking a third successive Europa League victory, but face a Rennes side whose prolific attack could provide a stern test despite its inconsistent domestic form.

The Italian club began the league phase with a 5-0 home win over NEC before edging past Celta Vigo 2-1 at Estadio Balaidos. Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani scored in Spain, lifting Juventus to the top of the standings with maximum points and putting them in a strong position to reach the knockout phase.

The European campaign is in marked contrast to Juventus’ Serie A form. Luciano Spalletti’s side have won only one of their past five league matches and were beaten 3-0 by Lazio on Sunday, leaving them eighth and eight points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Woltemade and Kolo Muani both missed excellent chances in that defeat. Juventus’ start is also weaker than at the same stage last season, shortly before Igor Tudor was dismissed and replaced by Spalletti.

The fixture is Juventus’ first against Rennes since 1999, when the Italian side won a two-legged Intertoto Cup final. Antonio Conte was among their goalscorers. Conte is currently available, meaning his presence continues to create pressure around Spalletti before a potentially difficult midweek match.

Rennes have lost all four of their previous visits to Italy, against Juventus, Udinese, Lazio and AC Milan, but will look to end that sequence in Turin. They opened their European campaign with a goalless draw against Sturm Graz and defeated OFI Crete last week through a late Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal goal.

Their continental record has been built on defensive discipline. Rennes rank first among the 36 teams in the competition for fewest expected goals conceded, with 0.79, and for the fewest shots allowed, with 13.

That defensive solidity has not been matched in Ligue 1. Franck Haise’s team have scored a league-high 15 goals but have conceded 14, including four in Sunday’s seven-goal thriller against Paris FC, which they lost 4-3. Esteban Lepaul scored a hat-trick of penalties, but Paris FC won after Rennes captain Valentin Rongier conceded a stoppage-time penalty.

Rennes have dropped to sixth, although they are only one point behind the five teams above them.

Juventus have won their past four European home matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding two. Their recent Europa League form is two wins, while their overall sequence is victory, victory, defeat, draw, victory, defeat. Rennes’ European record is draw and victory, with their all-competition form reading victory, draw, defeat, victory, victory, defeat.

Spalletti is expected to rotate a depleted squad. Francisco Conceicao dislocated his shoulder on Sunday and joins Kenan Yıldız, Khephren Thuram, Jeff Ekhator, Kamil Grabara and captain Manuel Locatelli on the unavailable list.

Woltemade has scored in both European games and could start alongside Kolo Muani or replace him, with no other fit Juventus striker available. Only Roberto Baggio in 1990 and Darko Kovacevic in 1999 had scored in their first three European appearances for Juventus.

Lepaul is a doubt after suffering an ankle injury at the weekend. Boulaye Dia, on loan from Lazio, could replace Ligue 1’s leading scorer. Rongier, initially rested against Paris FC, is expected to captain Rennes from midfield.

Mahamadou Nagida will compete with Quentin Merlin at left-back, while Bryan Reynolds could be selected ahead of Przemysław Frankowski.

Predicted line-ups

Juventus: Vicario; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Celik, Luiz, Sarr, Cambiaso; McKennie, Alajbegovic; Woltemade.

Rennes: Samba; Reynolds, Cresswell, Ait Boudlal, Nagida; Szymanski, Rongier, Camara; Blas, Dia, Soumare.

Betting tips: Both teams to score and fewer than 4.5 goals (2.15); Randal Kolo Muani to score (2.45); Esteban Lepaul or Nick Woltemade to score (1.73).

Juventus’ European strength at home may give them the edge over an unpredictable Rennes side, despite their struggles in Serie A.