Can Lorient's derby noise drown out Rennes' quieter class?

Twelfth against eighth doesn't scream derby. But Lorient against Rennes never needs the table to sell itself, and Saturday it gets a crowd that will sing for ninety minutes whatever the maths say. Lorient have nine points from nine games, form LWLWL, and the home numbers with their 4-2-3-1 are ugly: one win in six, 0.5 points a game, 7-11 on goals. Jon Etxaniz is out with broken ribs until about 1 December, so Eduardo Garrido and Ahmed Chraïbi hold the middle. Rennes sit eighth on 13 points, WLDLW, and their 4-4-2 has brought 2.0 points a game across five matches, 8-4 on goals. They're without Manuel Alegre, broken foot. Alexis Roberti is purring, averaging 7.35 across his last four; Ismael isn't, 6.34 across his last five.

The last meetings? Rennes won 2-0 in March, Lorient took the two before, 3-2 and 2-0. Watch the flanks: Abram Radebe's pace (16) against Victor Omar's (14) is the battle that could decide it, and Roberto Turmo, 7.19 lately, faces Ariel Rein at 6.89. Lorient's David Herault has been their brightest spark with 7.7 and 7.6 in his last two. Rennes need the points to climb; Lorient need them to breathe.