Nice – Rennes : Preview & Prediction
Coach Didier Digard has been motivating his Nice players in the midst of the bad moment to “finish in the best possible way”, despite saying goodbye to their hopes of qualifying for European soccer. The “Eaglets” are not going through their best moment and have a terrible record, having won only one of their last eight league matches (E4, P3), a streak that has left them 11 points behind the Top 5 of the table with only five games left to play.
It is worth noting that they at least managed that one win in their last match, when Hicham Boudaoui’s goal, his first of the season, secured a 1-0 victory over Troyes. Digard has described the Algerian as “one of the most important players of the future,” so he hopes the striker can help end a run of five Ligue 1 home games without a win (E3, P2), with Nice scoring just three goals in that span.
For their part, Rennes will be desperate to extend the home side’s poor form as they look to fight to qualify for European competition for the sixth consecutive season. The Red-and-Blacks are making the long trip to the south of France after coming from behind to beat Angers 4-2 last time out, and now find themselves just three points behind fifth-placed Lille.
What worries coach Bruno Génésio surely has to do with his team’s terrible away record, as they have just two wins in their last 10 away games in Ligue 1 (E2, P6). That doesn’t bode well for Rennes, who also shouldn’t be too confident about playing at the Allianz Riviera, given that they have won just two of their last 14 games played at this venue and against this opponent (E5, P7).
Players to watch: Nice’s top scorer Gaëtan Laborde will be hoping to end a dismal run of just one goal and one win in ten meetings against Rennes (E4, P5). Also looking to shine will be visiting striker Amine Gouiri, who has helped his team win in 20 of the last 24 matches (E2, P2) in which he has scored.
Weekend stat: Nice’s games in the current Ligue 1 season average 2.15 goals per game, which is the lowest figure in the entire league.
Nice – Rennes : Betting Tips
Nice – Win Odds: 2.85
