Juventus drew 2-2 with visitors Rennes at home in the third round of the Europa League, raising the hosts’ tally to 7 points and keeping them in fourth place, while Rennes’ tally rose to 5 points, moving them up to 13th.
What changed for the two teams?
Juventus entered the match with 6 points and came out with one point added to their tally. The team’s stay in fourth place was not surprising, but it leaves them behind Royal Union Saint-Gilloise by two points, with Juventus having the better goal difference (6 vs 7 for Saint-Gilloise).
Rennes were in a more delicate position before the match with 4 points, and after the draw they reached 5 points to move up to 13th. The point they earned at Juventus may be the most valuable in their European campaign so far.
What about the top of the table?
The top two, Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencváros, were unaffected by this draw, as each retains 9 points from 3 matches. Leverkusen lead on goal difference (8 vs 6), but the battle for the top positions remains open with many rounds still to play.
Juventus, two points off the top, remain in direct contention, but their home draw gives Ferencváros and Leverkusen a chance to pull further ahead in the coming rounds.
InfoSports numbers
- Juventus raised their tally from 6 to 7 points and remained in fourth place.
- Rennes moved from 4 to 5 points and climbed to 13th.
- Leverkusen and Ferencváros retain the top spots with 9 points each.
Europa League standings after the third round
- Bayer Leverkusen — 9 points (played 3, goal difference 8)
- Ferencváros — 9 points (played 3, goal difference 6)
- Royal Union Saint-Gilloise — 7 points (played 3, goal difference 7)
- Juventus — 7 points (played 3, goal difference 6)
- Sunderland — 7 points (played 3, goal difference 2)
- Benfica — 6 points (played 2, goal difference 5)
- Beşiktaş — 6 points (played 2, goal difference 4)
- AZ Alkmaar — 6 points (played 3, goal difference 4)
- Rennes — 5 points (played 3, goal difference 1)
- Olympique Marseille — 0 points (played 3, goal difference -5)
- NK Celje — 0 points (played 2, goal difference -5)
- Ararat-Armenia — 0 points (played 3, goal difference -9)
What awaits the two teams?
Juventus play against Lecce on Sunday 25 October in the domestic league, then return to the Europa League in the fourth round. Rennes host Strasbourg on the same day, hoping to continue their progress in the European standings.
The competition for the top eight places remains fierce, and every point could make the difference at the end of the league phase.
