DERBY NIGHT: RENNES HOST NANTES IN HISTORIC BRITTANY RIVALRY

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Rennes - Nantes April 18, 2025

Roazhon Park prepares for another chapter in one of French football's most storied regional rivalries as Rennes welcome Nantes for a Friday night Ligue 1 clash that could have significant implications for both clubs' season aspirations.

The hosts enter this Brittany derby with a remarkable streak that has become the talk of French football – Rennes have gone 21 consecutive Ligue 1 matches without a draw (9 wins, 12 losses) since sharing the points in a 1-1 stalemate at Brest on October 19. This extraordinary run is approaching the club's all-time record of 26 straight matches without a draw, set between October 2005 and April 2006.

However, not all recent trends favor the home side. Rennes have suffered defeats in their last two Ligue 1 home games (1-4 vs Paris, 0-1 vs Auxerre) and now face the prospect of losing three consecutive home matches for the first time in over a decade – a fate they haven't suffered since a four-game losing streak between March and May 2013.

When it comes to the head-to-head record, Rennes hold a significant advantage. Les Rouge et Noir are unbeaten in their last 10 home matches against Nantes in Ligue 1 (7 wins, 3 draws), including victories in each of their last five encounters at Roazhon Park. Their defensive record in this fixture has been particularly impressive, with Rennes keeping clean sheets in six of their last nine league meetings with Nantes – their highest tally against any single opponent since the start of 2021.

"The derby always brings something special," said Rennes' coach. "Our fans create an incredible atmosphere for these matches, and we know how much this game means to them."

Nantes arrive in confident mood after their 2-1 away victory at Nice last weekend. The Canaries have shown improved form in recent months, winning four of their last nine Ligue 1 matches – one more than they managed in their first 19 league games of the season (3 wins, 9 draws, 7 losses). A victory at Roazhon Park would give them consecutive league wins for only the second time this season, having previously achieved this feat in August.

One area of concern for the visitors has been their defensive fragility on the road. Nantes have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 14 away games in Ligue 1, with their last clean sheet on their travels coming in a 0-0 draw at Toulouse on the opening day of the season. Only Montpellier (18) are on a longer streak without an away clean sheet among current Ligue 1 teams.

The match could feature a fascinating tactical battle, with both sides among the most defensively disciplined in the league this season. Rennes (10) and Nantes (9) join Brest (10) as the three teams who have made the fewest errors leading to an opponent's shot in Ligue 1 this term. Interestingly, both clubs also share another statistical quirk – neither has won a single game after conceding the opening goal this season, a trait they share with only Angers and Brest.

Individual milestones are also at stake in this fixture. If selected, Nantes veteran Nicolas Pallois will make his 300th Ligue 1 appearance (11 with Valenciennes, 82 with Bordeaux, 206 with Nantes), becoming just the 10th active player to reach this landmark. The experienced defender, who has conceded more corners than any other player in Ligue 1 this season (32), joins elite company in Thomas Mangani, Benjamin André, Anthony Lopes, Jordan Ferri, Adrien Thomasson, Rémy Cabella, Benjamin Lecomte, Wahbi Khazri, and Marquinhos in reaching the triple-century.

The match will also showcase some of Ligue 1's most active defenders, with two of the three players who have applied the most pressing in the league this season playing for Rennes: Adrien Truffert (1,333) and Lorenz Assignon (1,061). They are joined in this high-intensity defensive elite by Nantes' Nicolas Cozza (1,199).

As both teams look to finish the season strongly, Friday's Brittany derby promises to deliver the passion and intensity that has made this fixture one of the highlights of the French football calendar.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data. Photo: source XYZ


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