Stade Rennais FC v AS Monaco (Saturday at 21:00 CET, 19:00 GMT)

The principality club are desperate to challenge for a podium finish after performing poorly in each of the last two seasons. Prior to that they had enjoyed five consecutive seasons finishing in the top three, including their run to the title in 2016-17.

In contrast, their opponents Rennes are fresh from finishing third in the last, curtailed Ligue 1 season. That was their highest-ever finish and saw them qualify for this season’s UEFA Champions League, further progress for a club on the up under coach Julien Stéphan, who already led them to a Coupe de France triumph in 2019.

Rennes have started the new season as they mean to go on, with a 1-1 draw away in Lille on the opening weekend being followed by consecutive victories, 2-1 at home to Montpellier Hérault SC and then 4-2 away at Nîmes Olympique. Striker Serhou Guirassy marked his first start since arriving from Amiens SC in a reported €15 million deal, with a brace for the Bretons in that game. Moroccan international defender Nayef Aguerd, another summer signing, also scored and Rennes look poised to compete towards the top of the table once again.

Highlights: Guirassy nets twice in Rennes win

Monaco, meanwhile, also have seven points out of a possible nine so far. They needed to come from two goals down just to draw 2-2 at home to Stade de Reims on the opening weekend but have since won 1-0 away at FC Metz - despite playing almost the entirety of the second half with 10 men - and then beat FC Nantes 2-1 at the Stade Louis II last time out.

'Take Monaco back where they belong'

Such a successful start for the principality club will have helped Kovac settle in after his appointment in the summer, as Monaco decided to start a new project overseen by the English sporting director, Paul Mitchell. Monaco’s team against Nantes featured two summer signings in centre-back Axel Disasi and German international striker Kevin Volland. However, there was also a debut in goal for 20-year-old Pole Radoslaw Majecki with Benjamin Lecomte sidelined due to coronavirus. In addition, Cesc Fàbregas made his first appearance of the season - the 800th of his professional career - and was excellent in midfield.

“We still have lots of room for improvement but we are on the right road,” said Kovac this week. “We are on a good dynamic but I have said since the beginning that we would need two months to get the team up to the level we want, and a good half-season for the players to assimilate this new way of working.”

Highlights: Monaco get better of Nantes

Looking ahead to the game at Roazhon Park, the former Bayern Munich coach added: “We are facing a team who are maybe of a superior level to the sides we have played so far, but it will be an interesting match and I think my players are ready.”

Stéphan seeks late birthday present

“We want to take Monaco back to where they belong, towards the top of the table, but there are lots of factors that need to be taken into account, like suspensions, coronavirus, injuries. But I like to say that we will only get to where we want to be, not by talking, but by working.”

Lecomte and Djibril Sidibé could return here for the visitors, but Aleksandr Golovin is still sidelined. Monaco have also confirmed that another, unnamed, player has tested positive for Covid-19 and has been placed in isolation, although he is “fine and his condition is not a cause for concern”.

A maximum of 5,000 fans will be allowed to attend the game, which comes a day after Rennes coach Stéphan celebrated his 40th birthday. Stéphan infamously might have gone to Monaco to become Thierry Henry’s assistant in late 2018, but instead stayed at Rennes and weeks later was promoted to the role of first-team coach at Roazhon Park. The links do not end there: Rennes president Nicolas Holveck was previously in a senior role at Monaco.

“This will be a good match against a great side, but we are at home and we need to keep our good run going,” said Rennes midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud.

Probable teams

Rennes: To follow

Monaco: To follow