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Rennes vs Celtic Europa League Group E 5:55pm Thursday September Stade de la Route-de-Lorient Rennes head coach Julien Stephan considers Celtic are extremely close to the caliber of Europa League rivals Lazio because he warned his team that getting out of the team could be more difficult than last year. Celtic kick off their group campaign in Brittany on Thursday while their Champions League conquerors, Cluj, take about the Italians. Rennes reached the last 16 final season, supporting Dinamo Kiev and finishing , prior to beating Real Betis and dropping to Arsenal. But Stephan explained:"It will be entirely different set from this past year, we think it's a more powerful team. They're utilised to winning names they've won eight titles in a row. "They're a team who are generally in the Champions League and they have huge experience with many internationals. "We all know they can play in the air and they are extremely technical. They're a very, very great team and possess technical players like (Callum) McGregor, (Ryan) Christie, (James) Forrest, just to mention a few. "They're well balanced and we understand how hard it will be but we are fortunate to perform at home and the supporters are going to play a big role in a possible win for all of us. "I really do believe Celtic are among the favorites. So far as experience they should be in a position to perform well, possibly just behind Lazio." Stephan has dropped half of the group which won the Cup this season but Rennes sit second in the table after beating leaders Paris Saint-Germain during their five matches. "it is a new group, a new season, there is a new story to be told and we will need to construct a story with a new team," he said. "We can't compare this year with last year, this past year is history. "We are in the process of fixing and the group is evolving. We've had an excellent start in the league and we need to take it into Europe." Christopher Jullien was declared fit to your game after sustaining a head injury from Hamilton. The Frenchman and medical care and Marios Ogkmpoe clashed before he had been forced off. If Neil Lennon chooses to break Jullien hatem Abd Elhamed is compelling to get a beginning, however, Leigh Griffiths did not travel after picking up a thigh knock. Rennes losing 1-3 away in the 2011-12 Europa League group stages and are winless in either of the meetings with Celtic, drawing. Celtic are winless in their last seven off European games against French opposition (D2 L5) since hammering Nantes 3-1 from the 1966-67 European Cup last 16, en route to winning the trophy. Including qualifiers, Rennes have lost only one of the last 15 home games in European contest (W8 D6), moving down 1-2 against Dynamo Kiev in last year's Europa League group stage. In Champions League along with Europa League games combined, Celtic have won just three of the 45 away team stage games (W3 D11 L31), with one of those victories coming from last year's contest (1-0 in Rosenborg). The James Forrest of celtic has played in each of his past four matches in European competition this year, including in both legs of the Europa League qualifying victory against AIK. Rennes have started quite well in Ligue 1. I am hoping that M'Baye Niang won't be playing. He's lightning quick, almost a lesser version of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. These guys move and can play, and that is what Celtic fight against. Celtic will be useful about the counter-attack, but their reputation is obviously exactly the same. They get scared when they journey away from home. They do not understand whether to play with a sport or not and the best places to pitch their defence. They are going to have players and pace out wide. Celtic have traumas that are defensive and will not endanger here. CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet) Follow minute-by-minute updates to the other side of app and the Sky Sports site through our live game site. Coverage will begin at 4.55pm. Watch games this season for less with our entire Soccer Offer. Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Premier League channels for just #18 extra monthly! Read more here: http://classicsounds.pl/?p=38335