Celtic head into the Europa League match against Rennes on Thursday night full of confidence. The Hoops have won their last eight games in all competitions, and will be taking on a team already eliminated from the competition at Celtic Park. For once, the Hoops could be seen as favourites for a European fixture.
That should be factored into the way Celtic approach the game. Despite Rennes playing in a better league domestically than Celtic, they are nine points behind the Hoops in the Europa League Group E table. Celtic should go into the game with a different mindset that they approached the first meeting between the teams with.
Hoops boss Neil Lennon told the Evening Times that he was ‘wary’ about the game between the teams in September, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
“We were really wary”
“At the start of the season they were fine. We were really wary of them going into the first game. They had beaten PSG and had a couple of good results” Lennon said about the Hoops’ upcoming opponents.
Since then though, Rennes seems to be in free-fall. They currently sit in 11th place in Ligue 1. In a way it was understandable that Lennon was cautious heading into the first game against Rennes. After all, it was the opening game of the Europa League group stage.
A win could see Hoops clinch top spot in group
However, there is no need for Celtic to take that approach at Celtic Park on Thursday night. Especially as a win could see the Hoops win Group E. They should go out to try to win the game like they would a normal domestic game at Celtic Park.
If Celtic were taking on a side in the league they were nine points ahead of you would expect them to be on the front-foot. This should be the case against Rennes. Go out and put on a show, and hopefully win the group as well. That is what Neil Lennon should be telling his players.
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