Monaco vs Stade Rennais FC preview - Rennes clash significant for Jardim

Posted Friday, April 17, 2015 by PA

Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has warned his players to put their Champions League dreams to one side to focus on the fight for a top-three domestic finish.

Les Rouges et Blancs head into Wednesday night's quarter-final second leg clash with Juventus at the Stade Louis II trailing just 1-0 after their visit to Turin and knowing they are tantalisingly close to a place in the last four.

However, in the meantime, they face Rennes at home in Ligue 1 on Saturday desperate to maintain their grip on third place with Marseille and St-Etienne hot on their heels.

Jardim told the club's official website, www.asmonaco.com: "I think the Rennes game is the key to a top-three finish.

"For me, it's the most important Ligue 1 game this season. It will be a tough match between two Champions League games, and we need the fans. Everyone needs to get behind the team."

Monaco are currently a point better off than Marseille and two ahead of St Etienne, although second-placed Paris St Germain, who have a game in hand, enjoy a four-point advantage with Lyon two clear at the top.

With six games remaining, it would take a significant swing for Jardim's men to overhaul either of the sides they trail, and they themselves have little margin for error.

They lost 2-0 in the league at Rennes in November last year, but gained revenge on home turf in the French Cup in February when goals from Almamy Toure, Wallace and Anthony Martial secured a 3-1 win.

That proved a difficult evening for the visitors, and coach Philippe Montanier is looking for a notable improvement this time around.

He told the club's official website, www.staderennais.com: "They [Monaco] have made a remarkable journey in the Champions League and also in the league, as they are on the podium. They are the team in form in this second part of the season.

"This is a big challenge. We went there in the Coupe de France and we were disappointed with our performance.

"They have played a lot of games, but they have a large squad, so they can afford to run with it. They cannot take the game lightly if they want to stay on the podium. It will be hard."

Ninth-placed Rennes will arrive in the principality in good form having lost just once in their last six games.