This Sunday, OGC Nice travels to Stade Rennais’ field, as part of the 9th day of Ligue 1. The Eaglets want to ride their positive momentum following the victory against OL last weekend. All the information about the match can be found here.
The season of OGC Nice continues, along with its inconsistencies! We thought the season for the red and blacks was finally underway after the victory against OL (3-2) last weekend. Against Les Gones, Franck Haise’s men showed a collective and solidary spirit, a rarity in their difficult start to the season. But the Gym quickly faltered again this week in the Europa League. Yehvann Diouf’s teammates were defeated at Celta Vigo (1-2), and still cannot find success on the European stage. This has been a longstanding issue for Nice, persisting for almost two years now.
How can we explain the fact that OGC Nice struggles to string together positive results? In Ligue 1, the Gym has been underperforming away from home for several months. The team from the French Riviera is seeking its first away victory in the championship since the end of April. Back then, the people from Nice struck Paris Saint-Germain down at the Parc des Princes (3-1). This season, the Eaglets have only secured one point out of a possible nine on the road. This was just before the break, during the derby against AS Monaco (2-2). In this area, Mohamed-Ali Cho’s teammates hold the 13th rank in the league (tied with Lorient, Auxerre, Le Havre, and Angers). This trip to Brittany, against Stade Rennais, offers a chance to improve this less-than-glorious record (kickoff of the match this Sunday at 17:15 at Roazhon Park).
Boudaoui uncertain, will Dante travel to Brittany?
Regarding the squad, no major improvements are to be noted on Franck Haise’s side. The coach of OGC Nice remains without Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Terem Moffi, and Moïse Bombito, who are injured. Uncertainty still lingers over Dante and Hicham Boudaoui. Absent from the trip to Vigo, both players may not be quite ready to participate in this match.
Against Rennes, OGC Nice is expected to field a team closer to a “first eleven.” Rested this week in the Europa League, Sofiane Diop is expected to return this weekend. The player in form right now, on the red and black side, could reclaim his spot at the forefront of Nice’s system, in a false nine role that perfectly suits his characteristics.
On the other side, Stade Rennais is not having the best part of its season. Despite having clear ambitions, the Breton club only occupies 9th place in Ligue 1, just ahead of Nice, despite both teams having the same number of points. The Rennes coach, Habib Beye, is said to be under pressure, and another defeat could cost him his job. But under the guidance of the Senegalese coach, Rennes won against Nice, who were then competing for a Champions League spot, at the end of last season (2-0).
Probable lineups:
Rennes: Samba – Seidu, Jacquet, Rouault – Blas, Camara, Rongier, Fofana, Merlin – Embolo, Lepaul
Nice: Diouf – Mendy, Oppong, Bard – Clauss, Vanhoutte, Sanson (or Abdul Samed), Abdi – Cho, Diop, Boga
