Esteban Lepaul is still not fit to return for Stade Rennais. The centre-forward has been injured for several weeks, and whilst it was hoped that he would return before the international break, he has failed to recover in time. He is not fit to play for Rennes against Lille OSC, whilst the muscular injury also cost him a place in Zinédine Zidane’s France squad.

Lepaul is the only major absence that Franck Haise must contend with. It leaves Haise with choices to make, but one that he has seemingly made is the one between Mahamadou Nagida and Quentin Merlin at left-back. It is the former who looks to have won that battle. The Breton club, meanwhile, are expected to remain in a 5-3-2 shape this afternoon.

Rennes likely line-up v Lille

Brice Samba; Mahamadou Nagida, Goncalo Oliveira, Charlie Cresswell, Anthony Rouault, Bryan Reynolds; Mahdi Camara, Valentin Rongier, Sébastien Szymanski; Moussa Al-Taamari, Boulaye Dia. (L’Eq)