UEFA Europa League Preview: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Udinese-Calcio-c40789 Vs Stade Rennais
Stadio Friuli will see Italian Serie A side Udinese host Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais in both sides’ first match of the UEFA Europa League group stages.
Udinese would be looking to test themselves against a French side that has started the 2011/2012 Ligue 1 campaign on a bright note. Last week, Stade Rennais defeated http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 at the Stade Velodrome and Rennais coach Frederic Antonetti would
be hopeful for a good result against the Italian side.
Both clubs will have a fight on their hands in order to qualify for the next round of the competition from a group that is definitely one of the strongest groups in the Europa League. Atletico Madrid and Celtic are the other two sides in Group I which means
that any of the four teams have a chance of making it to the next round.
Udinese defender Dusan Basta admits that the group is tough “It’s going to be a tough group to qualify from. We know that Rennes are a good team so it should be a good challenge,” said the Serbian defender.
Champions League disappointment
Le Zebrette finished fourth in the Serie A standings last season but lost to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 in Champions League playoffs. Manager Francisco Guidolin is looking to forget the disappointment of the playoff defeat and is hopeful that his side impresses in the Europa
League.
Good Ligue 1 start
Frederic Antonetti’s side have started well in the league this term and have collected 10 points in the first five league games. Fresh from the victory over Marseille courtesy a goal from substitute Jires Kembo-Ekoko, Les Bretons would be looking to cause
Udinese defence no end of troubles.
While talking about the win against Marseille, striker Victor http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-c16384 Montano said, “We made a great effort on defence and we were rewarded against Marseille. The players that came off the bench brought a lot of energy and strength to the team.”
However, the Colombian striker has asked his teammates to put the win behind them and focus on tonight’s game against a good Italian side that has a great defensive lineup.
Team news
Udinese
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Armero-c28946 return to first team action after the duo missed Udinese’s first game of the Serie A season.
Stade Rennais
Frederic Antonetti has a fully-fit squad to choose from and will be looking towards http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-Pitroipa-c19052 is also going to play an important role tonight. The winger has been one of Rennais’
best player so far this season since joining the club from Bundesliga side Hamburger this summer.
Previous meetings
The two sides will play against eachother for the first time in Europe. Last time Udinese played against a Ligue 1 team was in the 2005/2006 UEFA Cup round of 33 when they beat http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/RC-Lens-c40322 3-0 at home before they lost 1-0 at Lens but progressed to the round
of 16 on an aggregate win.
Rennes met Serie A giants Juventus in a UEFA Intertoto Cup final where they lost 2-0 at home before holding the Turin giants for a 2-2 draw at home.
Perditions
Following the departure of Gokhan Inler and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antonio-Di-Natale-c6306 and Mehdi Benatia would
prove enough to dispose off a Stade Rennais side that will not hold back from playing attacking football away from home.
Predicted final score: Udinese 2-1 Stade Rennais
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