Monaco vs Rennes prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-04-06 15:05.
[p]Beginning this round only one point behind second-placed Brest, Monaco are very much in the mix for their first top-two Ligue 1 finish since 2017/18 with seven fixtures to go. But in order for that to happen, the Red and Whites will likely need to improve their home form after failing to win in front of their fans since early December (D3, L3), starting with Sunday’s visit from Rennes.[/p]
[p]Since late February, the overall form of Adi Hütter’s side has been impressive (W3, D2) and they most recently thrashed Metz 5-2 after racing to a 3-0 lead inside the first 16 minutes last Saturday. Despite their recent struggles on home turf, Monaco can draw inspiration from an extremely strong record against Rennes, who they have lost to at the Stade Louis II only once from 2009 onwards (W12, D3).[/p]
[p]Rennes come into this clash with just one victory from their last five games (D1, L3) across all competitions, including a 1-0 Coupe de France semi-final defeat to PSG on Wednesday. That loss means the Red and Blacks, who began this round in eighth, will be completely focused on pushing for the top six to find a route into Europe for a seventh successive season. [/p]
[p]Julien Stéphan began his second spell in charge of Rennes in mid-November and eight wins from 15 in the league has lifted the side up from 13th, but a third straight top-four finish now looks out of reach. Ahead of Sunday’s game, one of his priorities should be to get his side scoring again, as they have drawn blanks in front of goal in their last two games after previously finding the net in 14 consecutive domestic matches.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Monaco striker Folarin Balogun got two assists in the last H2H in December and will be full of confidence after delivering their fourth and fifth goals against Metz last weekend. For Rennes, Benjamin Bourigeaud was on the scoresheet with a 90th minute penalty in December’s H2H, one of ten second-half strikes out of his 13 goals this season.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Rennes have kept the back door shut for at least 70 minutes before going on to concede in their last three league away games.[/p]