On the eve of the Rennes vs. Paris Saint-Germain match of the 22nd round of Ligue 1 and in light of the absences on each side, it is already possible to predict both teams' lineups. Before the Champions League playoff first leg against Monaco next Tuesday, Luis Enrique is expected to make several changes from the recent Classique against Marseille.

Leader of Ligue 1 heading into this 22nd round, PSG travels to Rennes on Friday evening. Luis Enrique will be without three players: Quentin Ndjantou, who recently underwent thigh surgery; Fabian Ruiz, still undergoing treatment after the knee injury he sustained Jan. 20; and Senny Mayulu, who has just joined the infirmary due to minor discomfort in his left calf.

As PSG played Sunday against Marseille and will play Tuesday at Monaco in the Champions League playoff first leg, the Parisian coach is expected to make several changes against Rennes to rest key players. In goal, Matvey Safonov is expected to make his fourth consecutive start, but there should be changes in front of him.

Returning from suspension, Achraf Hakimi will logically start on the right, and one of the usual center-backs could be rested and replaced by Ilya Zabarnyi. The likelier scenario is the Ukrainian in place of Marquinhos, with Willian Pacho starting on the left side of central defense and Lucas Hernandez rather than Nuno Mendes on the left. The French World Cup winner played 15 minutes against Marseille, presumably to gain rhythm ahead of this trip to Rennes.

In midfield, Vitinha could finally get some rest, and with Mayulu and Ruiz unavailable, Luis Enrique has limited options. Lee Kang-in and Warren Zaire-Emery are strong candidates to start in midfield, either in front of the defense or as box-to-box players, and the third midfielder should be Joao Neves, who twice played as a defensive midfielder against Rennes last season.

Finally, in attack, there are six contenders for three spots. Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele are expected to start against their former club — Doue on the right, Dembele through the middle — with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left ahead of Bradley Barcola. Unused against Marseille, Ibrahim Mbaye is further down the pecking order, as is Goncalo Ramos.

PSG's predicted lineup vs. Rennes: Safonov; Hakimi, Zabarnyi, Pacho, Hernandez; Lee, Zaire-Emery, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

On the Rennes side, the week has been turbulent. Habib Beye was dismissed on Monday and provisionally replaced by Sebastien Tambouret, the reserve team coach, who is expected to serve as interim manager on Friday as Franck Haise's arrival has yet to be confirmed.

This interim period should allow Brice Samba — sidelined last weekend by Beye — to regain his place in the Rennes squad and in the starting 11. For the visit of PSG, Rennes will be without its two center backs, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and Jeremy Jacquet, both injured, as well as midfielder Glen Kamara, who sustained an ankle injury. Several players are also questionable, including Djaoui Cisse in midfield and Przemyslaw Frankowski at right wingback.

Given these numerous absences, particularly in defense, will Rennes stick with a three-man backline against PSG? That is a real question. Beye's departure could also allow certain players to relaunch themselves — namely, attacking midfielder Ludovic Blas, who has not started in Ligue 1 since late October.

Rennes' predicted lineup vs. PSG: Samba; Seidu, Rouault, Brassier; Nordin, M. Camara, Rongier, Szymanski, Merlin; Blas, Lepaul.

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