Ligue 1: Lepaul out again as Rennes host Strasbourg without their top scorer

“Estéban will not be in the group this weekend, he is unavailable.” Franck Haise ended the suspense on Saturday at his press conference: Rennes play Strasbourg on Sunday without Estéban Lepaul, the top scorer in Ligue 1 with seven goals.

The striker injured his left ankle in the defeat at Paris FC (4-3) last weekend and already missed the trip to Juventus on Thursday (2-2, Europa League). Rennes scored twice there without him.

A sprain, no return date

“It is a sprain, there is nothing too serious,” Haise said. On the return date, the club commits to nothing: “a timeline for the return to training, to the group and to competition, I do not have one yet.”

Sixth on 13 points, Rennes host a Strasbourg side 14th on 7 points, on three straight league defeats and without Panichelli (knee).

The market had already moved

The odds had adjusted before the confirmation. Under 2 Rennes goals was 1.85 at 1xbet on Friday evening, from 1.90 at the open; the Rennes win slipped from 1.74 to 1.83 with the same bookmaker.

In our match preview I hold Rennes at 1.787 with the minimum stake: the market had read this one right. A recorded pick never changes after kick-off; this one stays on Rennes, with or without Lepaul.

Probable lineups, absentees and the full read of the match: our match preview. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.