Celtic face a tricky opener to their Europa League group stage campaign.
A side sitting second in Ligue 1 are the opponents and Rennes have big players throughout their team – including £19m Brazilian winger Raphinha.
But at the same time, Celtic will pose formidable opponents themselves. Neil Lennon is ready to unleash his three French stars on their countrymen as the manager bids to get off to a flier.
Expect Odsonne Edouard, Olivier Ntcham and Christopher Jullien to start as they attempt to prove their value to the Celtic side.
Although Rennes are a talented team, they don’t score all that often and were held to a 0-0 draw with Brest at the weekend.
It promises to be a close affair and here’s how our writers expect it to pan out...
Keith Jackson
Be in no doubt, this is a tough starter for Celtic in a minefield of a group. Rennes might not rank up there with the biggest spenders in French football but they’re sitting second top of Ligue 1 for a reason. But Neil Lennon is a shrewd tactician on the European stage and will be delighted to return home with a point.
Rennes 2 Celtic 2
Craig Swan
Rennes are an excellent side, but do not score lots of goals and Celtic are capable of nicking a result. It finished 1-1 between the sides in Brittany eight years ago and it might well do so again.
Rennes 1 Celtic 1
Michael Gannon
Rennes are a decent side and they will give Celtic problems. But Neil Lennon’s men are lethal on the counter and the French
contingent will be determined to shine on home soil.
Rennes 1 Celtic 2
Gary Ralston
Neil Lennon led Celtic to their first group stage win on the road in the Champions League at Spartak Moscow and his pragmatism will hold his side in good stead in the coming weeks. However, Rennes have too much of an attacking threat for a defence that's still finding its feet in this new-look team.
Celtic 1 Rennes 2
Gordon Parks
Celtic’s biggest concern will be the pace of Rennes' attack down the flanks but the French side have a habit of blowing hot and cold so hopefully the undoubted threat they carry will be a tepid one at Roazhon Park. This will be the sternest test yet of Neil Lennon’s backline and there’s a class within Julien Stephan’s side which is capable of carving open even the best. It could be one of those nights where frailties are exposed so the likes of Elhamed and Boligoli beware.
Rennes 2 Celtic 0
Fraser Wilson
It's the toughest of starts in what is a massively difficult group for Neil Lennon's side. Rennes might have stuttered on Saturday but they are still sitting second in Ligue 1 and with a scalp of PSG to boot. That's the danger Julien Stephan's side possess and with new boy Raphinha in the team they will prove just too much for the Hoops on home soil.
Rennes 2 Celtic 1
Darren Cooney
There are different dimensions with this Celtic team in Europe under Neil Lennon. Perhaps the Cluj calamity will be only an aberration as pragmatism replaces the passing ethos of Brendan Rodgers. Lennon’s French trio will be huge in claiming a good result.
Rennes 1 Celtic 1
