Rennes' Home Record Speaks Louder Than Recent Woes

The strongest case in this fixture is written in the home and away records. Over their last 20 home games, Rennes have won 11, drawn 3 and lost 6, scoring 1.65 goals per game. Auxerre, on the other hand, have won just 3 of their last 20 away games, drawing 7 and losing 10, managing 1 goal per game. The gap between those two records is the story of this match. The head-to-head within the last 12 months tells a similar tale. At Auxerre's ground in February, Rennes won 3–0. At Rennes' ground in October, the two sides shared points 2–2. In the recent meetings at both venues, Auxerre have not beaten Rennes, and the only blemish for the hosts is that one draw. But here is where the wise man must pause. The last two games for Rennes have been losses — 0–1 at Laval and 0–4 at Lyon — and in both, they failed to score. The current run is one of quiet frustration. A team that has not found the net in two consecutive outings must find a different way to unlock a defence, even one as porous as Auxerre's away record suggests. The 20-game home record is the foundation, but the last five games are the living pulse, and that pulse has been weak. Auxerre, meanwhile, arrive on a three-game winning run, scoring 7 and conceding 4. All three of those victories came at home, and their last away outing — a 1–3 defeat at Lyon on 4 September — reminds us that the road away from home is a harder path for this side. Their 20-game away record of 3 wins, 7 draws and 10 losses is not a record that inspires confidence in a hostile ground. The current run is real, but it is built on home soil, not on the road. The counter-argument, then, is this: form is a living thing, and Rennes' last two games have been poor. Auxerre are in rhythm, scoring freely and keeping the ball out of their own net. A team that has won three in a row is not the same team that lost 1–3 at Lyon five weeks ago. The 20-game records are the foundation, but the last five games are the living pulse, and for Rennes, that pulse has been flat. Key Points: - Rennes have won 11 of their last 20 home games; Auxerre have won just 3 of their last 20 away games - The recent head-to-head at both venues within 12 months produced a Rennes win (3–0) and a draw (2–2) - Rennes have lost their last two matches, scoring zero goals in both - Auxerre are on a three-game winning run, all three of which came at home - Over 2.5 goals occurred in both recent head-to-head meetings The evidence points firmly to Rennes at home, but the current form of the hosts and the recent rhythm of the visitors make it impossible to place a confident recommendation on any available price. No Bet.