Sochaux vs Rennes Prediction & Betting Tips (6 February)

Forced to return to Nationale 1 this year due to a delicate financial situation, FC Sochaux is trying to bounce back on a sporting level. And it's not going too badly for the Cubs who are still in the running to try to return to the professional world quickly. 4th in the ranking, the Doubiste club is currently doing well with 3 consecutive victories in the league against Marignane 4-0, Dijon 0-3 and Nîmes 1-0. But he had to settle for a draw last weekend against the leader, Red Star 2-2. The Franc-Comtois are also in sight in this Coupe de France since they have already dismissed two elite teams, Lorient 2-1 then Reims on penalties, during the previous rounds. Stade Rennais, for its part, is still engaged on several tables during this winter period.

He is also preparing to face AC Milan next week in the Europa League play-offs to try to reach the 1/8 finals. Also better in the championship after a very average first part of the season, the Bretons won 4 consecutive successes against Clermont 1-3, Nice 2-0, Lyon 2-3 and finally Montpellier on Saturday 2-1. This good series allowed them to return to the 1st part of the ranking and to be in 9th position, 7 lengths from the top 5. Finally, in this Coupe de France, the Rouge et Noir dismissed Guingamp 0-2 then OM shots on goal to advance to the 1/8th finals.

Sochaux will not be able to tackle this shock with its entire squad. The substitutes Drammeh and Tete and especially the very good midfielder Hoggas (6 goals) are in fact all out of shape at the moment. On the other hand, the attackers Fatar (5 goals) and Zohi (5 goals, ex-Strasbourg) are present as well as Diego Michel (4 goals), scorer against Reims, and the young Daho (3 goals in the Cup) . Some Sochalian elements are well known to the general public, such as the former Nantes player Pereira de Sa and the former Strasbourg player Dimitri Liénard who arrived this winter after an abortive experience near Bastia. If we put aside Swiss midfielder Rieder who is injured at the moment, Julien Stéphan could count on a full squad for this trip to Bonal. This winter, Serbian midfielder Matic was transferred to Lyon at the end of a long series while midfielder Matusiwa (Reims) and defender Seidu (Clermont) were enlisted.

Otherwise, Rennes have no shortage of offensive assets with striker Terrier, center forward Kalimuendo (4 goals in L1 and 2 in the Coupe de France), captain Bourigeaud (5 goals), and young Désiré Doué ( 3 goals). The probable line-ups for Sochaux - Rennes:Sochaux: Patouillet - Da Costa, Vitelli, Fontaine, Silva - Ackra, Pereira de Sa, Michel - Fatar, Zohi, Daho.Rennes: Gallon - G. Doué, Belocian (or Wooh), Theate , Truffert - Bourigeaud, Le Fée, Santamaria (or Matusiwa), D. Doué - Terrier, Kalimuendo.