Preview: Rennes vs. Monaco

Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Ligue 1 clash between Rennes and Monaco, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Monaco will look to keep tabs with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1 when they travel to Rennes on Saturday night.

Adi Hutter’s men come into the game off the back of a late fightback in Croatia on Wednesday, which maintained their unbeaten start.

Match preview
© Imago

On a rainy, sodden pitch at the Maksimir, Monaco fought against adversity to snatch an unlikely point away to Dinamo Zagreb in midweek.

Both Dinamo goals were of the highest quality, while even Hutter would admit Monaco’s first was very scruffy, before Denis Zakaria levelled from the spot on 90 minutes.

That means they have taken four points from their opening two Champions League games, after also beating Barcelona on matchday one, keeping their unbeaten start to the season going.

A stunning run of form domestically has complemented that, as Monaco have made the best start to a season since they won their first Ligue 1 title back in 1960-61, when they won six from six.

Not even in 2016-17 when Monaco beat PSG to the title did they make this good of a start, as they had just 13 points from their opening six on that occasion, compared to 16 so far this time around.

Only Lens have taken points off Hutter’s side so far, but they were slightly fortunate Montpellier did not last weekend, as Lamine Camara’s 98th-minute strike handed Monaco a dramatic late win against 10 men.

Next up is Rennes, a side that Monaco beat home and away last season, and a club in transition after a summer of upheaval in the transfer market.

With no European distractions, Rennes can focus solely on aiming for the top four, and bleeding their new players into the squad, but it has been a difficult beginning.

Julien Stephan’s side fought until the end at PSG last week, and almost gave the champions a late scare, pulling a goal back and having another disallowed with VAR, but they were eventually beaten 3-1 in the capital.

That defeat means Rennes have lost all three matches on the road so far this season though, meaning Stephan will be glad to be back at Roazhon Park here, where they are four unbeaten in Ligue 1.

This is the 50th time Rennes will host Monaco in all competitions, and they must improve on a win ratio of just 36.7% across those meetings, their second-worst against any club in France.

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

Monaco form (all competitions):

Team News
© Imago

Rennes have just one injury concern at present, and that is regarding Jota, as the new signing has played just 23 minutes since joining from Al Ittihad before sustaining a muscle injury.

Stephan went more defensive for the trip to the Parc des Princes last week, so some personnel changes could occur, including the return of Albert Gronbaek in attack.

Hans Hateboer and Glen Kamara will also be battling to regain their places in the starting XI, but may both start on the bench again here.

Radoslaw Majecki has been out for two months, but returned to the bench in midweek and could provide stiff opposition to Philipp Kohn, who has been the undisputed number one so far for Monaco.

Edan Diop is the only first-team player currently out injured, while another young attacker, Eliesse Ben Seghir, could return after only starting on the bench in midweek.

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Kohn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Caio Henrique; Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolo

We say: Rennes 1-2 Monaco
Monaco have won six of their last nine Ligue 1 encounters against Rennes, and will be slight favourites here despite the electric atmosphere expected under the lights.

Rennes are certainly much better at home, but Monaco have proven formidable opponents in Ligue 1 so far and should maintain their place in the top two this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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