Nantes vs Stade Rennais FC preview - Montanier aiming for derby success

Rennes are flying at the moment and coach Philippe Montanier knows they can take a huge step forward by claiming derby bragging rights at Nantes on Sunday.

Montanier's men have gone four matches unbeaten in all competitions and Rennes fans can be forgiven for still being on a high after they toppled Ligue 1 leaders Marseille 2-1 in the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday.

But their rivals Nantes are in an equally rich vein of form, having stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions with the 4-0 thumping of Laval in the cup in midweek.

Montanier knows it will not be an easy task and he told Rennes' website: "This is a real good performance from them (Nantes' win in midweek). Their playing is known."

The former Real Sociedad manager explained that the low turnover of players at Nantes - who only made three signings in the summer - might be helping out his opposite number, Michel Der Zakarian, because the Armenian coach has been able to work closely with most of his players for longer.

"The fact of not being able to recruit perhaps become an advantage because Michel (Der Zakarian, the Nantes coach) can work with the same group. This is a team that has a real sense of the collective," he added.

"For our part, we remain four games unbeaten. We will try to get closer to them and continue our series."

The main drawbacks for Montanier are the absences of Paul-Georges Ntep, who was sent off against Marseille, and Ola Toivonen.

Der Zakarian's Nantes sit fifth in the table four points and four places ahead of Rennes, but they know that if they were to lose on Sunday their rivals will be hot on their heels.

After going on an unbeaten run that stretches back into September defeat would be especially hard to take in a derby, and Der Zakarian admits Sunday's clash means more than a normal fixture.

"It's an important game like every game is a derby rivalry between the Pays de La Loire and Brittany," he said during his press conference.

"Rennes is even better than last year, they are reinforced with a big offensive potential, we will have to be at a good level to make them fall."