Rennais Stadium. No right to stall against Monaco – Stade Rennais
Ligue 1 (32nd day). Rennes – Monaco, this Friday (9 p.m.)
Third overall, four points ahead of Strasbourg and a goal difference of +36, Stade Rennais have a perilous schedule ahead of them. To retain its current position, Bruno Genesio’s group must go through the “high mountain stages” that await it with serenity. After bringing back a draw from Nice (1-1) a fortnight ago, on the program therefore: Monaco this Friday, current 6th (50 points), before the trip, Wednesday, to Strasbourg, 4th (52), but still and especially the last two days with the arrival of OM, 2nd (59), and the conclusion in Lille, 7th (48). In short, the first category passes of the L1, after having, it should be remembered, beat PSG in September (2-0) then twice Lyon (4-1, 4-2) this season. In the mouth of the Rennes coach, the speech does not vary. The “game after game” remains constant. “It’s not a lack of ambition, but every day is a truth. And, before the end of the month, it is difficult to say who even will play in a European Cup next season… The four days to come will be decisive for many teams. He is a direct competitor who can almost be eliminated from the race for the Champions League. We will take stock after Saint-Étienne (April 30, 35th day) to see what we can hope for, ”says the technician, used to podiums with OL, 2nd in 2016 and 3rd in 2018 and 2019.
“Reims, a great alert”
During the first leg, Rennes had not shone against these formations today still in progress for European places. Defeats in Monaco (2-1), Marseille (2-0), against Lille (2-1), with only one success (1-0) against the Alsatian club of ex-Rennes coach Julien Stéphan. In this final sprint, each point lost on the way could prove fatal in view of the podium. Less inspired in the game lately, jostled even in Nice and Reims last weekend (2-3), where it led 3-0 before losing the thread, Rennes knows its weaknesses. “Reims is a good alert but we managed to hang on. It’s a step up from the start of the season. We have a very offensive team, focused on the game, but from time to time you have to be able to reform a block and be collectively efficient to recover the ball well, ”says Genesio again, who will have to do without his defense boss, Aguerd. , sick this weekend. Will the red-and-black collective so praised since last fall be able to withstand the pressure?
The probable teams
Referee: Stephanie Frappart.
REINDEER. Alemdar – H. Traoré (cap.), Omari, Santamaria, Meling – J. Martin – Bourigeaud, Tait, Majer, Terrier – Laborde. Trainer: Bruno Genesio.
MONACO. Nübel – Aguilar, Disasi, Badiashile, Caio Henrique – Vanderson, Tchouameni, Fofana, Golovin – Volland, Ben Yedder (cap). Trainer: Philippe Clement.