Stade Rennais FC vs Lyonnais - Rennes ready to make a statement against Lyon

Posted Saturday, March 12, 2016 by PA

Rennes defender Mehdi Zeffane believes beating his old club Lyon on Sunday night will underline their European credentials.

The Breton club -have taken 10 points from five matches to move into fifth spot in Ligue 1 and raise hopes of a return to European competition for the first time since the 2011-12 season.

Lyon were lauded two weeks ago for ending champions-elect Paris St Germain's record-breaking 11-month unbeaten run in domestic football, but Bruno Genesio's third-placed side are only a point better off than Rennes ahead of their visit to Roazhon Park.

"It is true that this is a team that is playing very good football now," Zeffane told the official Rennes website.

"I do not know if changing coach has given them a new freshness, but I know very well what Bruno Genesio says and his way of seeing football.

"This is a team who scores a lot of goals without conceding a lot, but we must not be afraid of them and put on a very good performance.

"Olympique Lyonnais is a great club and a great team of our league, but we are a team that has ambitions of playing in Europe.

"At home, with the help of our fans, we have every chance (to win)."

Algeria international Zeffane joined Rennes in August after making only 19 appearances for Lyon, the club which gave him his chance in professional football.

And just 10 days later he scored his first goal in senior football as Les Rouge-et-Noir -won 2-1 at Lyon.

"It was a very special game for me, a very good memory as I had an assist and a goal," said Zeffane.

"Although I hurt them, my former team-mates were happy for me, they congratulated me.

"But it is in the past now. Although I will not forget it, it's still behind me.

"I know them well and I know they expect a big game against us at Roazhon Park. It will be tough, but it will be up to us to respond."

While teenage sensation Ousmane Dembele's hat-trick helped Rennes to a 4-1 victory over Nantes last weekend, Lyon were also on the goal trail with a 5-1 mauling of Guingamp.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice to take his tally for the season to 14 as the France forward continued to show the form which made him Ligue 1's leading scorer last term.

"I think the good Lacazette has returned because the team is doing well," the 10-times capped striker said after Les Gones' fifth win in six league games.

"We're going to continue like this and hope to be in really good form in the final run-in.

"Yes, I still have my mind on the Euros. But that will only come with good performances for my club.

"If I'm not picked (for France's March friendlies with Holland and Russia), then it's up to me to keep on working and hope to be selected in June."