Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes: Europa League Live Stream, Form Guide, Head to Head, Schedule, Fixture and Probable Lineups

Shakhtar Donetsk will play host to Rennes in the first leg of the Europa League playoff tie at Polish Army Stadium on Thursday evening. The hosts have not played a competitive fixture in three months and are forced to play their European games in Warsaw because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Shakhtar are heading into the match on the back of a 4-0 win over Sarajevo in a friendly last week, while Rennes suffered a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat to Toulouse on Sunday. The visitors are currently occupying sixth spot in the French top flight standings, having collected 40 points from 23 games. The Miners, meanwhile, will not return to league-action until the end of the month and are presently sitting at the second position in the Ukrainian Premier League table, with 30 points to their name from 13 outings. 

𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱’𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲, nous y sommes ! ✨#ToutDonner pic.twitter.com/vWJDlshZHU

— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) February 16, 2023

In the first half of the season, Shakhtar were involved in the UEFA Champions League, finishing third in Group F, behind Real Madrid and RB Leipzig, to be dropped down to the Europa League playoff. Their last group stage fixture ended in a disappointing 4-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in November. Meanwhile, Igor Jovicevic’s side went into the winter break with just four points from their final three games, which has left them trailing the leaders Dnipro-1 by five points in the title-race. Apart from that, the Miners lost their most influential player this season, Mykhaylo Mudryk, to Chelsea in the January transfer window. Despite the hefty transfer fee they received, it will be a huge blow to Shakhtar’s chances of going a long way in the continental competition. 

Rennes, on the other hand, are going through a rough patch, having lost five of their last seven outings. Meanwhile one of their two wins in that period came against leaders Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to Hamari Traore’s lone goal in the second half. Last time out, the Rennais went down 3-0 in the first half against Toulouse at Stadium Municipal, before pulling one goal back through Anthony Rouault’s 55th-minute own goal. Meanwhile, when it comes to the Europa League, the Red and Blacks secured second spot in Group B, recording three wins and as many draws from six outings. Their last group-match against AEK Larnaca ended in a 1-1 draw in November. 

Read more: Red Bull Salzburg vs Roma: Europa League Live Stream, Form Guide, Schedule, Fixture and Probable Lineups

Probable Lineups

Shakhtar haven’t brought in a replacement for Mudryk, therefore, Lassina Traore and Oleksandr Zubkov are expected to partner up front. Marian Shved and Viktor Korniienko will both miss out for the Miners through injury. As for Rennes, attacker Martin Terrier is sidelined with knee injury, joining the likes of Hamari Traore, Xeka and Lorenz Assignon in the treatment room, while Lovro Majer is back after recovering from an injury. Karl Toko Ekambi would lead the line, with Gouiri in support. 

Shakhtar Donetsk Probable line-up: Trublin, Bondat, Mykhaylychenko, Matviienko, Lucas, Taylor, Stepanenko, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Kryskiv, Zubkov, Traore

Rennes probable line-up: Mandanda, Spence, Rodon, Theate, Truffert, Bourigeaud, Tait, Santamaria, Doku, Toko, Ekambi, Gouiri

Form Guide

Shakhtar Donetsk

Rennes

Head to Head

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes Live Schedule and Fixture

The Europa League match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Rennes will take place at Polish Army Stadium on Thursday at 11:15 pm IST.

Where to watch Shakhtar Donetsk vs Rennes?

The live telecast of the Europa League match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Rennes can be seen on RMC Sport 1 and RMC Sport en direct in France. Meanwhile, those in Ukraine can catch the live action via MEGOGO Football 1.