Rennais visits Montbéliard

The championnat returns with Rennais traveling to Montbéliard to face Les Lionceaux at stade Bonal. For the hosts, the year has not been kind to them and the match will be met with the fervor of a fight to avoid relegation whereas les Rouges et Noirs must now adjust to the absence of Jimmy Briand. For their manager Francis Gillot, if the nightmare of a relegation fight wasn't enough he has to deal with Stéphane Dalmat run-in with Paris police that if not more, is distraction he does not need.

The key man in the attack was lost to a terrifying knee injury during a training ground injury for France and is likely out to the later stages of the calender year. Their is no "replacing" Jimmy Briand but the task will nonetheless fall into the hands most likely to Moussa Sow or Asamoah Gyan with Julián Estéban and Jirès Kembo Ekoko playing a significant role. However turmoil surrounds the Bretons this week as not only have they lost the striker and Kader Mangane to suspension for the rest of the year but rumours are circulating of Guy Lacombe's move to Benfica.

Beyond the loss of Briand and Mangane, there are a number of concerns with selection related to those with international duty. Rod Fanni duty with France should not pose a problem but late evaluations of Petter Hansson, Stéphane Mbia, Asamoah Gyan and Jires Kembo Ekoko will be needed with Carlos Bocanegra arriving late in the weekend.