2026–2027 Europa League: Sturm vs. Rennes, Probable Lineups

Rennes visits Sturm Graz on the first matchday of the Europa League group stage. The French side enters the match as the favorite according to pre-match odds and aims to kick off its European campaign with a win.

The match takes place at Graz-Liebenau and pits two teams against each other that reached the group stage via different paths. Sturm Graz was eliminated in the third qualifying round of the Champions League by Fenerbahçe, following a two-legged series against the Turkish side, and was subsequently redirected to the Europa League.

Rennes returns to the Europa League after last participating in the 2023–24 season, when the French team’s run ended in the playoffs for the round of 16.

The French coach is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation, with Lepaul leading the front three and Blas and Tamari on the wings. In midfield, Rongier, Szymanski, and Thomasson are set to start, while Cresswell and Rouault are likely to form the central defensive pairing.

Probable lineups:

STURM GRAZ (4-4-2): Khudyakov; Heil, Vallci, Quarshie, Malic; Kiteishvili, Weinhandl, Stankovic, Seidl; Diakite, Mamageishvili. Head Coach: Ingolitsch.

RENNES (4-3-3): Samba; Reynolds, Cresswell, Rouault, Nagida; Szymanski, Rongier, Thomasson; Tamari, Lepaul, Blas. Head Coach: Haise.