At some point, teams that are not used to playing two matches a week might start to feel it.
Fatigue could set in to smaller squads, injuries could derail promising runs, and the effect of travel could start to wear on teams.
For Stade Rennais (Rennes), which played its first UEFA Champions League Group Stage match in its history Tuesday (1-1 draw against Krasnodar), and has its second Champions League match at Sevilla Wednesday, that could be a concern at some point later this season.
But this is a young Rennes side (average age 24.6 years), and it should be able to deal with this situation better than some.
Rennes gets an Angers team that has a minus-seven goal difference at home Friday in Ligue 1 play, and the hosts have a chance to move to the top of the table with a win. They won’t let that chance slip.
France Ligue 1
Prediction: Stade Rennais (-125) vs. Angers (+260), draw (+340)
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
TV Channels: beIN Sports and Fubo.tv
Prediction: Stade Rennais ML (-125)
Best Prop Bet: Sehrou Guirassy to score and Rennes to win (+250)