Ligue 1: Rennes – Monaco, the absentees of the day
Roazhon Park in Brittany will be the scene of a crucial Ligue 1 match between Rennes and Monaco, who are each battling for a place in Europe next season. Stade Rennes go into Friday’s encounter unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, while the Monegasques have won their last three domestic matches and are just one point behind Nice for a place in the Europa Conference League.
The Rennais will probably be deprived of Jeremy Doku because of a calf problem, while the guardian Alfred Gomis suffers from a finger fracturewhich will counter him to stay on the sidelines.
Loic Bade suffers from a groin torso. Kamaldeen Sulemana is recovering from a back problems and Jérémy Gelin will not be available before the end of April at the earliest, due to a anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Rennes have 11 players who have scored several league goals this season, thanks in large part to the quality of service provided by their playmakers, notably Gaétan Laborde and Lovro Majer, who are tied for fifth in Ligue 1 with eight assists , while Bourigeaud has 11, two short of Lionel Messi for second place.
Guillermo Maripan will be absent until the end of April due to a knee injuryand Krepin Diatta will not return this season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
The player to watch
Although he was unmarked in the previous encounter, Wissam Ben Yedder is proving he deserves a place in the France squad for the World Cup in November.
The Monegasque striker scored three goals in their last three league games and is tied with Terrier for second place in this department, two lengths behind former Monaco striker Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.