Hoping to respond at the first time of asking after being comprehensively beaten 4-1 by RC Lens on their own turf last weekend, Monaco thought they had grabbed the game’s opening goal after six minutes.
However, George Ilenikhena and the travelling Monegasques’ supporters were annoyingly left with bated breath, as the striker’s effort was disallowed due to offside.
That frustration grew to exasperation in the 20th minute, as Mahdi Camara’s delightful delivery in the danger zone was expertly volleyed home by Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal.
In response, it took an out-of-sorts Monaco side until just after the half-hour mark to call Brice Samba into action, as Ansu Fati’s header was easily gathered by the Rennes goalkeeper.
That turned out to be the only meaningful effort on goal from Sebastien Pocognoli’s side in an underwhelming first half, though with Paul Pogba cutting an eager figure on the bench after a two-year ban for doping, there was still the potential for high drama.
He was a mere onlooker, however, as Monaco wilted under some serious Rennes pressure only three minutes after the restart, when the provider of their first-half strike turned goalscorer in the second.
In the right place at the right time, Camara gratefully accepted a gift from Lukas Hradecky, who was only able to palm Musa Al-Taamari’s fierce strike into his path, allowing the box-to-box midfielder to head home the rebound.
Only the quick thinking of Mohammed Salisu then prevented another goal in rapid succession, when he cleared Breel Embolo’s header off the line.
But any hopes of a Monaco comeback were all but ended in the 66th minute, as referee Hakim Ben El Hadj brandished a straight red card to Denis Zakaria for a reckless challenge on Esteban Lepaul.
And if Rennes’ first hat-trick of Ligue 1 victories since February 2024 wasn’t already assured, it certainly was just seven minutes later, as former Monaco employee Embolo headed Przemysław Frankowski’s cross past Hradecky.
Monaco’s embarrassment was compounded on 83’, when Ludovic Blas powered home from the penalty spot after Kassoum Ouattara brought down Camara inside the box.
Having provisionally moved into the top-five in such devastating style, the Red and Blacks have undoubtedly rejuvenated their hopes of a UEFA Champions League return.
Meanwhile, Monaco’s torrid run of form continues, with Les Monegasques now winning only three of their previous 11 matches across all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mahdi Camara (Rennes)