Verdict: Monaco win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to widen their buffer in the Champions League chase, Monaco will welcome Rennes to the Stade Louis II on Sunday afternoon.

Monaco

Starting with the hosts, marking their return from March’s international break with another stellar display, Monaco are sat firmly in the driving seat to punch a lucrative Champions League ticket this season. Last seen storming their way to a 5-2 romp away at Metz, Adi Hutter’s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. Unbeaten in all of their previous five Ligue 1 appearances, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss has also seen his squad lose just one of their last nine top-flight showdowns. Smelling the chance to make another statement here, Monaco will certainly be excited by their most recent showdown against Sunday’s guests. Claiming an eye-catching 2-1 victory when they travelled to Rennes for their reverse Ligue 1 contest on December 9th, Hutter will be calling on a repeat performance this weekend.

Team News

While Mohamed Camara might be inching towards a first-team return, the former Salzburg midfielder still remains on the sidelines for at least a couple more months. Likewise, missing out away at Metz last weekend, Chile international Guillermo Maripan will not feature on Sunday afternoon.

However, in what could be a timely boost, former Chelsea loanee Denis Zakaria is free to make a full return after serving a one-match suspension last week. While attacking talisman Wissam Ben Yedder might have failed to find the net in his previous five domestic appearances, the 33-year-old will spearhead Hutter’s charge here.

Rennes

As for the visitors, while Rennes might have opened up the 2023/24 campaign with their sights set on clinching their own Champions League spot, Julien Stephan’s men have shown some extended issues this season. Last seen crashing out of the Coupe de France following a 1-0 loss at the hands of PSG, the former Strasbourg boss has seen his squad muster just a single victory from any of their previous five appearances across all competitions. Watching their Europa League adventure come to an end back in February as they suffered a 5-3 aggregate defeat against Italian icons AC Milan, Rennes will face another stern challenge here. Hit with that 2-1 loss when they welcomed Monaco to Roazhon Park for their reverse meeting on December 9th, Stephan’s side have a real battle on their hands to clinch any kind of European adventure for next season.

Team News

Both serving their own respective one-match suspensions last week, the duo of Adrien Truffert and Ludovic Blas are set to make a full return on Sunday afternoon. However, still dealing with a recent muscle injury and not making a single appearance over the past couple of months, 18-year-old Mahamadou Nagida remains on the sidelines.

Forced to settle for a spot on the bench away at PSG earlier in the week, France international Martin Terrier should feature from the start. Notching five goals across all competitions since opening the New Year, Amine Gouiri should partner Terrier in the final third.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Monaco and Rennes met for their reverse Ligue 1 meeting on December 9th, Sunday’s hosts picked up a 2-1 victory at Roazhon Park.
• Likewise, Rennes have collected just a single point from any of their previous four Ligue 1 trips to the Stade Louis II.
• Monaco have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous nine appearances across all competitions.
• Rennes have recorded just a single win from any of their previous five matchups across all formats.
• All of the last seven meetings between Monaco and Rennes at the Stade Louis II have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

Marking their return from March’s international break with a stellar 5-2 victory away at Metz, Monaco will be looking to for a repeat performance here. Smelling the chance to widen their buffer in the Champions League chase, Sunday’s hosts will also be excited by an eye-catching record against Rennes. Including a 2-1 victory when they travelled to Roazhon Park for their reverse Ligue 1 meeting on December 9th, Monaco have also collected 10 points from their last four showdowns against Rennes on home soil.

Verdict: Monaco win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Luckster