Preview: Rennes vs. Monaco - prediction, team news, lineups

Both clubs are involved in a three-way battle for fourth place that guarantees a spot in next year's Europa League.

Match preview

Rennes seems to have found form at the right time in 2022-23, with a spot in Europe on the cards next season, having secured three wins in four games.

The Red and Blacks had lost three games in four before the tide was turned at the end of April when they secured a 4-2 victory over relegated Angers.

That was followed by a 2-1 loss at Nice, but Bruno Genesio's men have recovered to pick up back-to-back wins over Troyes (4-0) and Ajaccio (5-0).

The Brittany-based club had kept one clean sheet in five before the consecutive shut-outs, putting them in good stead before their penultimate game against Monaco.

Rennes are three points back of the side they welcome on Saturday — with Lille, who face relegation-threatened Nantes this weekend, two points behind — and a win would see them leapfrog the Monegasques.

However, moving into fourth place is not guaranteed unless Nantes stun Lille at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Monaco's Ligue 1 wobble has been ill-timed, with Philippe Clement's troops failing to secure maximum points in three of their last five league fixtures, losing three games.

The ongoing run was preceded by picking up 10 points from an available 12, before the sudden collapse in performances and results.

Clement's team have not scored in consecutive home fixtures, with the 4-0 humiliation against Montpellier arguably their season's nadir, and it is telling that only three goals have been scored in five rounds.

A 2-1 win at Angers has not instigated a turnaround, and a 3-1 road defeat by Olympique Lyon in the previous round underscores their struggle to hang on to fourth place.

Nevertheless, the fact that Monaco have the third-best road record in Ligue 1 gives away fans hope before Saturday's encounter.

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

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Monaco Ligue 1 form:

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Team News

Rennes should be without the sidelined Martin Terrier, Xeka, Adrien Truffert and Djed Spence because of potentially season-ending injuries.

Amine Gouiri scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 thrashing of Ajaccio, and the wide attacker is expected to feature in an attack comprising Jeremy Doku and Karl Toko Ekambi.

Clement has been without Malang Sarr (muscle) since March, and the versatile defender is unlikely to feature for Monaco at Rennes.

Breel Embolo had scored 12 Ligue 1 goals before a knee injury ruled him out from mid-March to mid-May, and the Switzerland international could start for the first time in two months after two cameos against Lille and Lyon.

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Traore, Omari, Rodon, Belocian; Bourigeaud, Santamaria, Majer; Doku, Ekambi, Gouiri

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Nubel; Disasi, Matsima, Henrique; Vanderson, Fofana, Matazo, Jakobs; Minamino, Golovin; Ben Yedder

We say: Rennes 3-1 Monaco

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