October 5, 2024. 22:00. Rennes. Roazhon Park Stadium.
French Championship. Matchday 7.
Where to watch: RAINBOW
Injury list: Jota – Diop
Monaco’s winning streak came to an abrupt halt after a draw in Zagreb this week. Nevertheless, the principality side remains in fine form, sitting second in Ligue 1, and prepares for a tough away match against Rennes, who are struggling for consistency, hovering in mid-table.
Rennes
Last season was a disastrous one for Rennes, resulting in their first absence from European competitions in seven years. Consequently, coach Stéphane is now tasked with rebuilding a new squad at a more relaxed pace, free from midweek matches. This rebuilding process is quite literal as many key players departed Rennes over the summer.
It is no surprise that the ‘Red and Blacks’ have had a rocky start to the new campaign. However, a pattern has emerged in their performances – Rennes typically secures points at home but falters on the road. At Roazhon Park, they secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Lyon and Montpellier, with only Lens managing to escape with a draw, scoring a last-gasp equalizer – 1:1.
On their travels, Rennes has consistently scored one goal but conceded two or more. This was evident in their matches against Strasbourg (1-3), Reims (1-2), and last weekend against PSG (1-3). The home clash with Monaco could disrupt the ‘Red and Blacks’ undefeated streak at home. From fifty encounters against the principality club, Rennes has managed to win just over a third, marking it as their second-worst record against any Ligue 1 team. Notably, last season, Stéphane’s side lost both fixtures against Monaco.
Monaco
Monaco found themselves on the brink of their first defeat of the season. In the 66th minute of their match against Dinamo Zagreb, they were trailing 0-2. However, they managed to stage a comeback during the remaining time, with Salis scoring first and Zakaria equalizing. Following their 2-1 victory at home against Barcelona, this result does not seem too bad, especially considering their dominant performance, as four points from two rounds in the elite European competition appear acceptable.
In the French Championship, Monaco has only dropped points once in six matches, which occurred during their home meeting with Lens. An equalizer in stoppage time separated them from a perfect start – 1:1. In the remaining five matches, the principality side secured victories, including home wins over Saint-Étienne, Le Havre, and Montpellier with scores of 1-0, 3-1, and 2-1 respectively. On their travels, coach Guter’s men have even better statistics – two wins from two with no goals conceded. They defeated Lyon 2-0 and Auxerre 3-0.
Thus, Guter must be pleased with his squad. Monaco has maintained its attacking prowess following the departure of Ben Yedder, while they appear more solid defensively than in previous seasons, having conceded just three goals thus far – the second-best record in Ligue 1. 16 points allow them to keep pace with PSG, trailing the capital club only on goal difference. Staying in contention against the Parisians will be challenging, but reclaiming the silver position in the league is a realistic goal for Monaco.
Rennes vs Monaco: Projected Line-ups
Both teams will face just one absence ahead of this fixture. Jota will miss out for Rennes, while Diop will be sidelined for Monaco.
Rennes vs Monaco: Author’s Prediction
Monaco has won six of the last nine encounters against Rennes and currently looks like the favorite in this match. The principality side demonstrated their resilience this week, and I expect that the fatigue from their Champions League efforts will not hinder Guter’s men from securing another victory in Ligue 1.
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