This would be the first game that PSG would play without Neymar as the Brazilian begins a spell on the sidelines yet again. Neymar left the pitch in tears having injured himself against Strasbourg last week. The Brazilian was accused of showboating by their opponents in that game and was at the end of some dangerous challenges, but his injury came solely from him kicking the pitch. It would be interesting to see how the French champions fair without him as they go chasing their 11th consecutive home win in the league this season. This game is traditionally one of the toughest for PSG as Rennes tend to know how to get results when they visit the French champions. The last seven games between these sides have all ended in away wins, however, PSG have had to visit Rennes in six of those games. The visitors come here having won 3 of their last 6 league visits to the Parc des Princes, including the last in May last year.

AS Monaco earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Olypique Marseille in their last game and that would have provided a much needed boost to their morale ahead of this game. Thierry Henry’s side needed that draw to show that they are achieving something and they have now avoided defeat in 3 of their last 4 games, whereas they had lost 4 of their previous 5. They have steadied the ship defensively and the return of Rony Lopes to their starting line up alongside the newly signed Cesc Fabregas is surely going to make them a better team in this second half of the season. Nice come into this game having tasted victory just once in their last 7 games in all competitions. However, that win came against Bordeaux last weekend and they would be confident of getting something from this game. The visitors attempted to play a possession-based game in their last match and that wasn’t successful as their opponents kept on cutting out their passes. They could be afforded more freedom to play their game here, but that wouldn’t guarantee them the win. Monaco have scored in four of their last five matches and with Nice losing their last two games on the road, we can see les Monegasques nicking a win here. Both these sides have seen low-scoring matches recently with just two of Nice’s last 14 containing over 2.5 goals, so we’re going to back a 1-0 victory for Monaco. Nice have seemed incapable of scoring recently and with Monaco on the up, we’re expecting Henry’s men to do the job here.