Shakhtar Donetsk – Rennes : Preview & Prediction
At the Stadion Miejski Legii Warszawa in Warsaw, the Ukrainian team of Shakhtar Donetsk will be at home in the first leg of the Europa League playoffs when they receive the visit of a tough French team like Rennes.
As we know, Igor Jovicevic’s men have not had any official activity for a little over three months due to the winter break, their last match being a 2-1 win over Vorskla Poltava in November 2022.
Kroty have had to play some friendlies to be “in shape” for their Europa League matches, which they just closed with a win against Sarajevo (4-0).
The Ukrainian team comes to this stage after their participation in a Champions League where they finished third in their group, with only one victory in their six matches, which came away from home against RB Leipzig (1-4); and for a change now they will not be able to count on their main figure Mykhaylo Mudryk who is at Chelsea, as well as Sergiy Kryvtsov.
For their part, Bruno Génésio’s men are not in good form, and at the weekend added another defeat against Toulouse (3-1), making it four defeats in their last five official matches, including the elimination in the round of 32 in the Coupe de France against Olympique Marseille (1-0).
These results have taken Les Rouges et Noirs to sixth in the Ligue 1 standings, out of European positions, and seven points out of the Champions League places.
It is now time to focus on their participation in a Europa League where they finished unbeaten in their six matches (3 wins, 3 draws), which allowed them to place second in their group.
Despite the loss of an important player such as Martin Terrier, they are looking to maintain their unbeaten record to avenge what happened in the 2005/06 edition of the Europa League when they lost (0-1).
Shakhtar Donetsk – Rennes : Betting Tips
Shakhtar Donetsk – Win Odds: 3.25
