Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Rennesvs.Monaco

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 October 2024, 20:29
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

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:

W

L

L

W

D

L

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

W

W

D

W

W

W

Monaco form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

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.

Hutter has not settled on a back four just yet and has changed his selection often this season, with Wilfried Singo, Jordan Teze and Christian Mawissa Elebi providing more depth in the centre behind Thilo Kehrer and Mohammed Salisu.

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Ostigard, Wooh, Seidu; Assignon, Santamaria, Matusiwa, Truffert; Blas, Kalimuendo, Gronbaek

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.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia will play their first game since the devastating DANA storm struck the region when they welcome Real Betis to Mestalla for Saturday's La Liga contest. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides that were glad to see international football intervene will return from a much-needed break on Saturday, as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace meet at Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone host Kilmarnock this weekend at McDiarmid Park, in a clash between two struggling Scottish Premiership sides. 21 November 2024 talksport.com It would take a lot to humiliate Cole Palmer on a football pitch, but he's revealed what would need to happen to do so. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Iago Aspas is once again expected to start, as Celta Vigo continue their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a contest against division leaders Barcelona on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are set to again be without the services of a number of important players for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, including Lamine Yamal, with the Spaniard not yet recovering from an ankle problem. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's YouTube video with Mr Beast hit one million views in just 30 minutes. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town and Southampton are all reportedly interested in signing Vasco da Gama youngster Rayan. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga leaders Barcelona will be bidding to bounce back from a surprise defeat before the November international break when they resume their league campaign away to Celta Vigo on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal need a figure up front like Alexander Isak to replace Kai Havertz. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to travel to Tynecastle Park to face relegation-threatened Hearts on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first game as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side take on Ipswich.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon