AS Monaco take on Rennes after dramatic UCL draw against Zagreb.
As Stade Rennais prepare to host AS Monaco at Roazhon Park this Saturday evening, both teams will be eager to address their recent shortcomings and capitalize on their attacking prowess in what promises to be a thrilling Ligue 1 encounter.
Rennes
A 3-1 defeat to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain last Friday saw Rennes slip to 10th place, just one point behind ninth-placed Nice. Arnaud Kalimuendo’s goal from the penalty spot was mere consolation for the Red and Blacks, who were trailing by three goals, marking their third league defeat of the season.
‘We were dominated by a team that was able to punish us for long transitions,’ Julien Stéphan commented after the loss. He also added, ‘We need to improve when we get the ball back and create more clear-cut chances,’ with this weekend’s home game against Monaco offering a chance to address these issues.
Stéphan aims to rectify these flaws, while also confronting an unimpressive home record against Monaco. Rennes have lost six of their last nine league encounters with Saturday’s opponents, achieving only two wins and one draw in those matchups.
Furthermore, Rennes hold just a 36.7% win percentage against Monaco in their 50 home games across all competitions. This is their second-lowest ratio against any team they have faced at least 10 times at home, slightly better than only their percentage against PSG.
Despite these concerns, Stéphan’s team will be optimistic about securing maximum points, buoyed by their recent home form, where they remain unbeaten in the last four league games. However, failing to win this weekend would mean Rennes records fewer than two wins at this stage of a Ligue 1 season for the 12th time.
Ludovic Blas, Amine Gouiri, and Arnaud Kalimuendo are expected to spearhead the attack as Stéphan sets up a 3-4-3 formation.
Monaco
```htmlMonaco are coming off a 2-2 comeback draw against Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night. The Red and Whites fought back from a two-goal deficit courtesy of goals from Mohammed Salisu (74’) and Denis Zakaria (90’ P).
“I can't say that I am happy, but after being behind by two goals, I must say that I am satisfied to get a draw,” Adi Hütter said, reflecting on his team's performance. This match marked the first time in over a month that Monaco failed to record a win.
Prior to Wednesday’s clash, Monaco had achieved four straight victories in all competitions. This included a 2-1 league victory against Montpellier last weekend, which propelled them to second place, level on points with table-topping PSG.
As they make the trip to Rennes this weekend, Monaco aims to return with a win. A 4—2—2 formation is expected, featuring Folarin Balogun and Breel Embolo in attack.
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