Rennes v Shakthar Donetsk – Betting Preview
Rennes Summary
The French side Rennes are the big favourites to progress despite the setback in the first leg. They remain confident and come into the game on the back of a 2-0 home win over Clermont, arresting a run of back to back losses in their domestic Ligue 1.
Rennes are trying to progress to the next round of the Europa League but with it all to do having lost the ‘away’ leg in Warsaw last week.
With that 2-1 loss in Poland, they know they must improve for the second leg and go for a two goal win in order to progress.
If the French were looking for promising signs, they can seek comfort in that they are boasting an eight-game unbeaten stretch at home in UEFA football, winning half of those and drawing the other half.
Rennes are going well in the league, sitting in 5th place after the weekend results.
Their team news is not ideal. The host are missing Terrier, Assignon and Traore, along with Portuguese player Xeka as well.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Despite dropping down from the UEFA Champions League to this inferior UEFA competition, the highly respected Ukrainian outfit are keen to make this step down in quality count in their favour and go all the way.
Shakhtar were triumphant underdogs in the home leg which for them, meant playing in Poland due to the war in their own country.
Due to the conflict with Russia their league was suspended and so odds are against them having only played friendlies in the last three months.
Manager Igor Jovićević recently stated his side showed the same fighting spirit as the soldiers on the battlefield. True or not, they are going to be highly motivated and passionate in making this competition count
If they progress to the Round of 16 it will be for the third time in four seasons.
A stalemate is all they need to progress and it looks likely they will play with caution and try to frustrate Rennes.
Looking at team news, the Ukrainian side is missing Korniienko and Shved for the second leg in France.
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. Rennes look like strong favourites @ 1.71. The draw is @ 4.15 and a shock away win pays @ 4.70.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest. Rennes need to win and they should be able to achieve it considering the obvious edge they should have in match sharpness. The French will go for it here, Rennes -0.75 @ 1.86 looks fairly attractive as its likely they will win, by two goals is less certain. Shakthar +0.75 is @ 2.00.
Looking at The Under/Over goal line last of all, where the line looks reasonably high at 2.75. Over is @ 1.94 and the Under is @ 1.88.
