Juventus will look to extend their perfect start to the Europa League when they host Stade Rennais on Thursday, while the visitors wait to discover whether prolific striker Esteban Lepaul will recover from an ankle injury.

The Italian side opened with a 5-0 home victory over NEC before edging past Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Estadio Balaidos. Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani scored in Spain, sending Luciano Spalletti’s team to the top of the league phase.

Juventus have six points from two matches and are well placed to reach the knockout phase as they pursue a first European trophy this century. Their continental form contrasts sharply with their domestic struggles, however. They have won only one of their past five Serie A games and sit eighth, eight points behind leaders Inter Milan after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Lazio.

Woltemade and Kolo Muani both missed clear chances in that loss. The result also increased the pressure on Spalletti, whose side have made a worse start than at the same stage last season, shortly before Igor Tudor was dismissed and replaced by the current manager. Antonio Conte’s availability has added to the speculation surrounding Spalletti, with Conte having scored for Juventus when the clubs last met in 1999 in a two-legged Intertoto Cup final.

Rennes have also avoided defeat in Europe, drawing 0-0 with Sturm Graz before Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal’s late goal secured a win over OFI Crete last week. Their defensive record is the best among the 36 teams in the competition, with an expected goals against figure of 0.79 and only 13 shots conceded.

Franck Haise’s side have been less secure in Ligue 1. They are the division’s top scorers with 15 goals but have conceded 14, including four in Sunday’s seven-goal thriller against Paris FC, which they lost 4-3. Lepaul scored a hat-trick of penalties, but Valentin Rongier conceded a stoppage-time spot-kick that Paris FC converted. Rennes dropped to sixth, although they are only one point behind the five teams above them.

Juventus have won their past four European home matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding two. Spalletti is expected to rotate amid an injury-hit schedule, with Francisco Conceicao joining Kenan Y?ld?z, Khephren Thuram, Jeff Ekhator, Kamil Grabara and captain Manuel Locatelli on the sidelines.

Woltemade has scored in both Europa League games and could replace Kolo Muani or partner him, with no other fit striker available. Rennes may have to replace Lepaul with Boulaye Dia, while Rongier is expected to captain the visitors from midfield.

Probable teams

Juventus: Vicario; Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly; Celik, Luiz, Sarr, Cambiaso; McKennie, Alajbegovic; Woltemade.

Rennes: Samba; Reynolds, Cresswell, Ait Boudlal, Nagida; Szymanski, Rongier, Camara; Blas, Dia, Soumare.

Suggested bets: both teams to score and fewer than 4.5 goals – 2.15; Kolo Muani to score – 2.45; Lepaul or Woltemade to score – 1.73.

Juventus’ Europa League form is V, V, while Rennes are N, V. Across all competitions, Juventus are V, V, D, N, V, D and Rennes are V, N, D, V, V, D. Despite their domestic inconsistency, Juventus are favoured to overcome Rennes in Turin.