Lech's attacking continuity gives their meeting with Sunderland a competitive shape despite the gap in their recent European results. Sunderland still have midfield supply and wide delivery, while their available central finishing options are thinner. Juventus against Rennes looks more patient, with territorial pressure facing changed attacking roles and a reported extra central defender.
Lech's Pereira, Walemark, Rodriguez and Ishak linked through actual assists and finishes against Korona. Murawski's return also restores a midfield option that was missing against Leverkusen. Sunderland retain Xhaka, Le Fee and Mukiele as ways to move the ball and supply the box, but Brobbey is ruled out and Isidor remains a major doubt.
The early contest should be about reaching Rodriguez and Ishak before Sunderland close the first pass. Lech's retained attacking connections give them a way to answer pressure throughout the match. That's why I'm siding with Lech Poznan to keep this close.
Juventus have recently needed time to turn possession into good chances. Their forward pair can occupy Rennes's centre-backs, but their latest first halves produced little, and the Lazio match offered limited overall creation. Rennes's reported extra defender and restored midfield give a concrete basis for expecting more resistance through the centre.
Conceicao and Zhegrova appeared as substitutes against Lazio and are now absent from the official squad. Rennes have also lost Lepaul, whose last away goals were penalties and whose linking play contributed against OFI. I expect Juventus to build pressure gradually, with fewer established ways for Rennes to turn an escape into a sustained attacking sequence. That's why I'm expecting a restrained scoring game between Juventus and Rennes.
