A resounding 4-1 victory on the pitch of the “verts.” The last away game of “Le Gym” made an impression. Already broadcast as the Sunday night match, the game in the “Cauldron” confirmed Hatem Ben Arfa’s excellent form. The club’s top scorer, the former Newcastle player will undoubtedly be Nice’s number one asset (6th) again tonight in Rennes (4th). Cardinale will be starting in the Nice goal.
Almost everything has changed between the OGC Nice of last season and this season’s team. Everything except the good results away from home. Initially held to draws on the pitches of promoted teams Troyes and Angers, Claude Puel’s team then went on to beat Bastia and Saint-Etienne. More effective up front and more solid at the back, the “Aiglons” have turned the promises of early season into certainties. Tactically, this diamond 4-4-2 is today absolutely indisputable.
Fourth in the championship with 16 points, Rennes is in a dynamic almost opposite to that of their rival from the Côte d’Azur. After a very good start, the Bretons have settled for four consecutive draws in LIGUE 1, all with a score of 1-1. Despite some interesting offensive elements like Henrique, Sio, or Grosicki, the Rennes attack remains largely dependent on the performances of Paul-Georges Ntep. The French international is out of action and they will have to manage without him tonight.
Rennes no longer loses
Defeated in Bastia on the first day of Ligue 1, the Rennes team has not lost since. In Ligue 1, only Paris does better with a series of 18 games without defeat. Against Nice in particular, the “red and blacks” of the west have lost only once in the last sixteen encounters. That was on the pitch of the Stade de la Route de Lorient on May 5, 2013. Cvitanitch, with a double, and Bauthéac allowed “Le Gym” to secure a 3-0 victory. This Nice team that won in Ille-et-Villaine then finished fourth in the championship.
Since then, Rennes has recovered in the confrontation with the “Aiglons” and even won both matches last season. Phillipe Montanier, who will celebrate his one-hundredth match in charge of Stade Rennais tonight, is expected to rely on the 3-5-2 formation that has been in place for some time. In this setup, his men have always scored at least one goal this season. Up front, Henrique and Sio are expected to team up with Doucouré providing support. The trio will be looking to give the young Cardinale, starting in the Nice goal due to the injuries of Pouplin and Hassen, some work to do.
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