Olympiakos visit Rennes on 4 November seeking a fourth straight Europa League win

The match and the stakes

Olympiakos face Rennes at Roazhon Park on 4 November in the fourth matchday of the Europa League League Phase, with kick-off at 17:30. The Greek side have won their first three games in the competition, and a win would give them four from four, a decisive step towards a place in the top eight. The match is due to be broadcast on Magenta Sport 3, with live coverage on Newsit.gr.

Olympiakos arrive with nine consecutive wins across all competitions. Their European results so far are a 2-1 win over Jagiellonia, a 1-0 win over Sparta Prague at the Karaiskakis Stadium and a 1-0 away win over Marseille. Reports note they have won their last five away games in all competitions, and their only away defeat this season was a 2-1 loss to Nijmegen in the Champions League qualifiers.

Rennes' form

Rennes have not lost in Europe this season, but their league form has slipped badly. Their most recent result was a 5-2 defeat to Nice in Ligue 1. In the Europa League they beat OFI 2-1 after coming from behind, drew 0-0 away at Sturm Graz and drew 2-2 away at Juventus. Reports also state that Rennes have conceded 11 goals in their last four matches, which the home side will need to address against a side that has scored freely.

Team news and the coach's message

Imanol Alguacil has taken every available player to France. Popovits, Sipioni, Roka, Clayton and Marius are outside the European squad list, while El Kaabi is injured and Yazici is not being counted on. Rennes will be without striker Esteban Lepol, who was left out of the squad announced at midday on 4 November, while captain Valentin Rosier and Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal have returned to the group.

At his press conference, Alguacil made the club's intentions clear.

“We are Olympiakos, we came for the 4/4 and we will try to achieve it.”

He also warned against complacency, pointing to the earlier European games.

“There are no easy games, we must be at the level, as in the other games against Jagiellonia, Marseille and Sparta.”

The same evening in Athens

AEK Athens host Real Madrid in the Champions League at the Allwyn Arena at 19:45, a few hours after the Olympiakos kick-off. AEK coach Marko Nikolić has said his side will need tactical adjustment, intensity and full concentration, and he is relying on the home crowd to give them a push.