Amman — Jordan national team star Mousa Al-Tamari faces another European test when his French club Rennes visit Italian giants Juventus on Thursday in the third round of the UEFA Europa League league phase. The match carries significance beyond the points at stake, as the player looks to make his mark in a major moment of his professional career.
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The clash with Juventus offers Al-Tamari a chance to perform on a major European stage against a club with a rich history in continental competitions. He will be looking to strengthen his presence at Rennes and help the team secure a positive result away from home.
Rennes began their European campaign with a draw against Austria’s Sturm Graz before defeating Greece’s OFI Crete 2–1, collecting four points from their opening two matches.
Juventus, meanwhile, enter the match with a perfect record after consecutive victories over Dutch side NEC Nijmegen and Spain’s Celta Vigo. This sets up a difficult test for Rennes at Allianz Stadium, particularly as the Italian side looks to maintain its strong start to the competition.
The match could also carry historical significance for Al-Tamari, as it is among the most prominent official fixtures involving a Jordanian player against one of Italy’s football giants. Juventus have won the UEFA Champions League twice, in 1985 and 1996.
Al-Tamari’s challenge extends beyond facing a formidable opponent. He will be seeking his first Europa League goal after making two appearances for Rennes in the current edition, in addition to seven previous appearances in the competition with Cypriot club APOEL Nicosia, without finding the net.
Al-Tamari has built up European experience across several clubs, beginning with APOEL Nicosia, followed by Belgian side OH Leuven, before moving to French football with Montpellier and then joining Rennes in February last year.
Rennes’ task is made more difficult by their record in Italy, having lost all four of their previous European away matches against Italian clubs: Juventus, Udinese, Lazio and AC Milan.
That record adds another challenge for Al-Tamari and his teammates, who head into Thursday’s match after suffering their first domestic defeat of the season against Paris FC on Sunday in the French league.
Rennes will, however, look to take advantage of Juventus’ recent domestic setback. The Italian side suffered a heavy 3–0 home defeat to Lazio in the previous round of Serie A.
The 29-year-old Al-Tamari will aim to provide the required attacking contribution and make the most of any opportunities against the Italian defence, hoping to open his European scoring account and help his team secure a result that strengthens its position in the competition.
The Jordanian star also hopes to score his first goal for Rennes this season. He has recorded just one assist in nine appearances across Ligue 1 and the Europa League, starting some matches and coming on as a substitute in others. His assist came against Marseille in the fourth round of Ligue 1.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Muhannad Jweiles
