Lille – Stade Rennes: the probable line-up of Sampaoli
For this first meeting under the orders of Jorge Sampaoli, the mystery remains as to how Stade Rennes will play against Lille.
Difficult to establish a probable team composition when almost no clues emerge. Bruno Genesio admitted it during his press conference, for the first time this season, the Lille coach did not have a video to show to his players to prepare for the arrival of Rennes, now led by Jorge Sampaoli.
Will the Argentinian want to play with 3 or 4 in defense? His 4-2-3-1 installed with Flamengo during his last experience or his older 3-4-2-1? It is also predictable that the coach wants to get the most out of his new team by first making it play the way it plays least badly: with a 4-man defense.
Under Julien Stéphan, this group had shown its limits in 3-4-3, before finding some bearings during a return to a 4-man defense. Mandanda will start, probably just like Blas who came to the press conference. Santamaria and Matusiwa have been available to Sampaoli since his arrival unlike many internationals, as have Assignon, Faye, and Jota. Gouiri seems to have a card to play again.
But after a first pre-match press conference filled with mysteries, and two weeks of training away from view (apart from 5 times the first 15 minutes open to the press, therefore the warm-up) the probable composition is still very difficult to be established.
The probable compo (in 4-2-3-1): Mandanda – Assignon, Ostigard, Faye, Seidu – Matusiwa, Santamaria – Blas, Gouiri, Jota – Kalimuendo
Credit: Demivolée.com
