Stade Rennais is preparing to face OGC Nice on Friday October 30 at 7 p.m., but the team's picture is heavily affected by two major injuries. Striker Estéban Lepaul, still recovering from an ankle injury, and goalkeeper BriceSamba, who felt discomfort in his thigh during Wednesday's training, are not sure they will be able to participate. The lack of these two key players raises questions about the team's ability to present itself in the best conditions on the Côte d'Azur.
Estéban Lepaul has not returned to training since October 18, the date of his ankle injury sustained during the match against ParisFC. Although he does not present any ligament complications, his return remains uncertain. Coach FranckHaise indicated that progress was being monitored closely and that he hoped to see the striker's development before the match against Olympiakos, scheduled in six days. He clarified, however, that Lepaul's return to the field would depend on improvement in individual sessions, leaving his inclusion in the next European duel open.
As for BriceSamba, the pain in his thigh, noted during training, could deprive him of the trip. To fill the possible absence of the goalkeeper, Haise put NicolasLemaître and KilianBelazzoug, two quality goalkeepers close in the hierarchy, into competition. The coach stressed that there is no number 2 or number 3, but that he trusts both to defend the nets.
In addition to these injuries, the club's calendar was turned upside down. The match against Nice, initially scheduled for Saturday at 5:15 p.m., was brought forward to Friday October 30 at 7 p.m. due to planned social movements in the country. The Europa League duel against Olympiakos, for its part, has been moved to Wednesday, November 4 at 4:30 p.m. These changes force Rennes to reorganize its preparation and adjust its game plan before a series of important meetings.
FranckHaise put these constraints into perspective, recalling that football must remain a sport which creates positive emotions, even in the face of national difficulties. He insisted on the need to keep the focus on the upcoming matches, while remaining cautious about the condition of his key players. The next challenge for Stade Rennais will therefore be to be without Estéban Lepaul and BriceSamba, or to count on their last minute returns, in order to try to secure a victory against OGC Nice before preparing for the European clash.