Atlético seek back-to-back victories at Rennes

Stade Rennais FC are on a five-game winning streak at home in Europe as they prepare to take on Club Atlético de Madrid in UEFA Europa League Group I.

Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in UEFA competition.

• In Rennes' only previous tie against Spanish opponents they came through a 2005/06 UEFA Cup first round tie with CA Osasuna, winning 3-1 at home and drawing 0-0 in Pamplona. Osasuna's coach in that game, Mexican Javier Aguirre, would take over at Atlético the following season, leading the club from 2006 to 2009.

• Aguirre was in charge for Atlético's most recent games against French opponents, a 2-1 home win and a 0-0 away draw against Olympique de Marseille in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League group stage.

• Atlético's record in ten games against French sides is W5 D4 L1 (W1 D3 L1 in France). That sole defeat was a 4-2 loss at RC Lens in the UEFA Cup fourth round on 9 March 2000.

Match background
• Rennes are unbeaten in seven European home games since a 2-1 loss to PFC Lokomotiv Sofia in the UEFA Cup first round on 4 October 2007. They have won their last five continental games at home, conceding just once in the process.

• However, Rennes have yet to win a UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League home group game; they lost both of their Group G outings in 2005/06, then drew both of their 2007/08 fixtures in Group D 1-1.

• Atlético are unbeaten in four European away games – three wins and a draw. Their record in five UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage away games is W2 D2 L1.

Team facts
• Rennes midfielder Stéphane Dalmat played in Spain with Real Racing Club (2005/06).

• Atlético defender Miranda played in Ligue 1 for FC Sochaux-Montbéliard in 2005/06.

• Atlético midfielder Tiago Mendes played in France with Olympique Lyonnais, winning two Ligue 1 titles from 2005 to 2007.

• Rennes left-back Chris Mavinga and Atlético's on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois were team-mates at KRC Genk earlier this year, winning the Belgian title together.

• Once a player for SC Bastia in his native Corsica, Rennes coach Frédéric Antonetti took charge of Bastia, AS Saint-Étienne and OGC Nice before being handed his current job in 2009. He has not featured in Europe since leading Bastia from the UEFA Intertoto Cup to the second round of the UEFA Cup in 1997/98.

• A coach since his late 20s, Atlético boss Gregorio Manzano's most tangible achievement in football was leading RCD Mallorca to the 2002/03 Spanish Cup. He took over at Atlético for a second time in the summer after a spell at Sevilla FC, who gave him a belated first taste of UEFA competition last season.