This Saturday, OGC Nice will travel to Stade Rennais, as part of the 33rd and penultimate day of Ligue 1. The Eagles must win to stay in the race for the Champions League. All the pre-match information is available here.
One watchword: victory! Embarked on the final sprint for the Champions League race, the Eagles can no longer afford any mistakes. There are only two matches left to conclude the 2024/25 season. Fourth in the standings, the Eagles have qualification for the most prestigious club competition within reach. The Nice team passed their first test last weekend against Reims (1-0). For this, they will need to win on the pitch at Stade Rennais, this Saturday (kick-off at 9 PM).
This trip to Brittany will be the 17th and last away game of the red and black season in Ligue 1. This year, the overall away record is rather positive for Franck Haise‘s team. The teammates of Mohamed-Ali Cho have recorded six away wins in the championship (victories on the pitches of Angers, Brest, Reims, Le Havre, Saint-Étienne, and PSG) along with five draws and five defeats. Away from home, the Gym has the fifth-best record in the French top flight.
Santamaria not eligible for this match
For this final away game of the season, there are no new absences within Franck Haise‘s squad. Having undergone surgery for cruciate ligament injuries, Mohamed Abdelmonem and Youssouf Ndayishimiye will not return for several months. On his part, Tanguy Ndombele remains in the infirmary. The midfielder is still troubled by his pubalgia.
Lastly, the coach of OGC Nice will also have to do without Baptiste Santamaria. The defensive midfielder is on loan from Stade Rennais. Therefore, he cannot participate in this match. An agreement on this matter was reached between the two clubs during negotiations last January. It should be noted that OGC Nice has an option to purchase in this matter. Valued at approximately €3 million, this has not yet been officially activated by the Gym.
On the other side, Stade Rennais has little left to play for. After a disappointing season, the Breton club is only in 11th place in Ligue 1, far from competing for European spots. The team of Arnaud Kalimuendo has had three different coaches this season: Julien Stéphan, Jorge Sampaoli, and Habib Beye. Rennes is coming off two consecutive league defeats. The latest was last weekend, away at Toulouse (2-1).
The probable line-ups:
Rennes: Samba – Wooh, Rouault, Brassier – Assignon, James, Cissé, Truffert (C) – Blas – Kalimuendo, Meïté
Nice: Bulka – Bombito, Dante (C), Bard – Clauss, Sanson, Boudaoui, Abdi – Guessand, Laborde, Bouanani.
