If Stade Rennais are to snap out of a patchy run of form and consolidate their hold on third place in the table, a derby win at home to Stade Brestois 29 on Saturday is a must.
Coming into Tuesday's Round 23 trip to LOSC Lille, Rennes were six points clear of their fourth-placed hosts and just three behind second-placed Olympique de Marseille.
Loïc Rémy's fourth-minute goal — the only strike of the encounter at the Stade Pierre Mauroy — and OM's 2-0 victory at AS Saint-Étienne reversed those margins, and with only two wins in their last five, Julien Stéphan's men are sitting a lot less comfortably in the last UEFA Champions League qualifying spot.
Panic stations? Not yet says Stéphan.
"We deservedly lost given how the match went overall, even if we have nothing to be ashamed of following our second-half display," he said after the defeat in northern France, ennes' second in 2020 following the 1-0 home loss to Marseille in their first league game of the year. "We have injuries, we're playing every three or four days. It's not an excuse, just a fact. We have the ninth-biggest budget in Ligue 1, and we played against a Champions League side that has experience. We have a young team and we know we'll have to battle. We absolutely must not panic just because we have lost a game and we were a little less good."
"It's the little details that make the difference," added midfielder Flavien Tait. "We made a mess of the opening to the game, but overall there wasn't any difference between a big team and us. We're learning too."
WATCH: Lille and Loïc Rémy bring Rennes down to Earth
The same can be said of Brest, promoted last summer and trying to ensure they do not make an immediate return to the second tier. France's westernmost club, perched on the very tip of Brittany's Atlantic coast, are making a decent fist of it.
Crucial wins over fellow strugglers Toulouse FC and Amiens SC got 2020 off to a positive start while their impressive home record was added to with a 1-1 midweek draw against Girondins de Bordeaux that means only PSG have come to the Stade Francis Le Blé this season and won.
"You have to congratulate the players. We went looking for that point," said coach Olivier Dall'Oglio, whose side have picked up all but eight of their 29 points on home soil. "We didn't have a lot of luck, we lacked a little spontaneity. We'll take the draw, which today was a good point."
The visitors to Roazhon Park will be without Jean-Luc Castelletto, who was sent off against Bordeaux, while new signing Steven N'Zonzi could make his Rennes debut. Jérémy Morel and Raphinha, who was substituted after just 34 minutes at Lille with back pain, are both doubts for the hosts.
Probable teams
Stade Renneais FC: Mendy - Traoré, Da Silva (c), Morel, Maouassa - Tait, Nzonzi, Bourigeaud, Del Castillo - Niang, Hunou
Stade Brestois 29: Larsonneur - Faussurier, Bain, Duverne, Baal - Belkebla, Battocchio - Court, Autret (c), Cardona - Charbonnier
