Nantes Coach Rene Girard Wary Of Monaco Threat

Rene Girard knows his Nantes side face a tough challenge when Monaco come to Stade de la Beaujoire in a first home game as new manager.Girard, who took over from Michel Der Zakarian in the summer, guided Nantes to a 1-0 win at Dijon on the opening weekend.Monaco head west on the back of a 2-1 away win in their Champions League play-off against Villarreal as Leonardo Jardim's men chase a place in the lucrative group stages once again.Girard accepts Les Canaris will have to step things up to get another positive result."Monaco have a beautiful team with a very good players and they are capable of being a formidable outsider in our league. They have a very strong squad and we have been warned," Girard said, quoted on the official Ligue 1 website."They are ahead of us in terms of the number of competitive matches they have played. With the squad Monaco have, I don't think it will be a problem for them."It is no bad thing that they have got these matches to play and it would be an error for us to think it will make things easier for us (on Saturday)."Nantes have doubts over midfielder Adrien Thomasson and forward Emiliano Sala, but Icelandic frontman Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and new signing Alex Kacaniklic should be in the squad.Monaco opened the domestic campaign with a 2-2 home draw against Guingamp, secured by a late goal from Bernardo Silva, who was also on target against Villarreal.Forward Valere Germain, a summer signing from Nice, will be available for the Ligue 1 game, having served a one-match suspension, but Kylian Mbappe remains an injury doubt.Monaco coach Jardim said on the club's official website: "It is never easy to play in Nantes. Two years ago we won by only a goal and last year we had a draw. It will present a test."Bordeaux are another side out to make it two wins from two when they head to local rivals Toulouse.Jocelyn Gourvennec said at a press conference: "Even though it is only the second game of the season, with both teams still looking for their balance, we can take it as a derby."Toulouse made a solid game in Marseille, continuing the dynamics from the tail end of last season."Nice, who beat Rennes on the opening weekend, travel to Angers.Elsewhere on Saturday, Lille host Dijon, Lorient take on Bastia while Rennes host Nancy.Montpellier will look to make it six points from two games when they travel to St Etienne on Sunday, which also sees Marseille at Guingamp, while Metz take on champions Paris St Germain.

Source: PA-WIRE