In-form Rennes have a must-win ‘final’ at home to FC Astana on Thursday, with a place in the last 32 on the line, while Bordeaux need victory over Kobenhavn plus other results to go their way in order to hope for the same.
Thursday, 13 December, 2019
UEFA Europa League Matchday 6
Group H
Roazhon Park, Rennes
Stade Rennais FC – FC Astana 
>> Live scoring from 18:55 CET
Although it has been an up-and-down season for Rennes – to say the least – new coach Julien Stéphan and his side have a chance to put the emphasis on the former as they look to ride a two-match Ligue 1 Conforama wining streak into the club’s first-ever place in the UEFA Europa League’s knockout rounds.
With two wins and three defeats in the groups stage so far this season, Rennes are in third place but, fortuitously, can leapfrog Astana into second place with at home tp the Kazakh outfit on Thursday. New boss Stéphan, who replaced Sabri Lamouchi just over a week ago, is off to a blistering start in his career as a head coach and proved fittingly upbeat in his pre-match press conference.
Stéphan: ‘We have everything to win’
“The pressure is on Astana; we have everything to win because, as things stand right now, before the match, we’re eliminated. Only good things can happen for us, while they have everything to lose because as things stand, they’re though to the next round,” explained Stéphan as he heads into his first European clash looking to galvanise the club’s hometown fans. “Roazhon Park needs to be pulsating tomorrow night; we need everyone and especially our twelfth man to push us from beginning to end.”
Stéphan will doubtless be looking for resurgent playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa – who has struck superb goals in each of the side’s last two wins – to continue his fine form alongside the likes of exciting talents such as Ismaila Sarr and Jordan Siebatcheu in a full-full-strength line-up.
Probable teams
Stade Rennais FC: Ab. Diallo; H. Traoré, Da Silva (c), Mexer, Bensebaini; Grenier, André; I. Sarr, Ben Arfa, Bourigeaud; Siebatcheu
FC Astana: Eric (c); Rukavina, Postnikov, Anicic, Shomko; Tomasov, Mayevski, Kleinheisler, Pedro Henrique; Kabananga, Almeida de Olivieira
Group C
FC Kobenhavn Stadium, Copenhagen
FC Kobenhavn – Girondins de Bordeaux 
>> Live scoring from 21:00 CET
With a win, a draw and three defeats, Bordeaux’s outlook is somewhat dimmer than Rennes as they head into their final-day fixture with FC Kobenhavn, but Eric Bédouet’s men, who are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, still have a chance of seeing the last 32.
The Girondins’ rousing 2-0 Matchday 5 win over Slavia Praha means that, should Bordeaux beat Kobenhavn and Slavia lose to Zenit Saint Petersburg in the group’s other match, Bordeaux will be locked on seven points with the Czech club but pip them to second on head-to-head goal difference (Salvia beat Bordeaux by one goal fewer in their Matchday 1 clash in Prague).
To get the job done against the side beat them 2-1 at home on Matchday 2, Bédouet is tipped to go with a full-strength 4-3-3 line-up that leaves Danish international Andreas Cornelius – who struck as Bordeaux became the first side to take points off PSG in the league this season in their 2-2 Week 15 draw – on the bench.
Probable teams
FC Kobenhavn: Andersen; Ankersen, Bjelland, Vavro, Boilesen; Skov, Gregus, Zeca (c), Falk Jensen; D. N’Doye, Sotiriou
Girondins de Bordeaux: Costil (c); Palencia, Koundé, Pablo, Poundjé; Lerager, Otavio, Plasil; Karamoh, Briand, Kamano
Group H
Orange Vélodrome, Marseille
Olympique de Marseille – Apollon Limassol 
>> Live scoring from 18:55 CET
Normally Olympique de Marseille boss Rudi Garcia would be tempted to rotate his squad for this fixture, given that his side are already eliminated. However, after having their Week 17 Ligue 1 Conforama fixture away to Saint-Etienne pushed back to January, and the Week 18 visit of Bordeaux also postponed, the OM boss can make the most of this dead rubber against Cypriot side Apollon Limassol – also already eliminated – to keep his squad in shape.
“We want to win against Limassol,” declared the OM boss, whose recent string of results – two wins in their last nine outings in all competitions – is starting to put pressure on his position at the helm of the southern giants. “We need to play ourselves back into a positive dynamic.”
Garcia is tipped to field a near-full strength line-up – with stopper Rolando and key midfielder Morgan Sanson to be rested and reserve-team ‘keeper Florian Escales getting his first-team debut at the expense of Steve Mandanda.
Probable teams
Olympique de Marseille: Escales; Sakai, Rami, Caleta-Car, Amavi; M. Lopez, Strootman, Luiz Gustavo; Thauvin, Germain, Payet (c)
Apollon Limassol: Vale (c); Joao Pedro, Roberge, Ouedraogo, Soumah; Spoljaric, Sachetti; Sardinero, Markovic, Schembri; Faupala
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