Against third-placed Stade Rennais, Nice dominated but were pegged back late in the game (1-1). 

Pre-game analysis made predicting the result a nightmare with the Gym the third-best attack at home up against the visitors, who boasted the best defence ‘on the road’.

Raphinha fizzed a shot past a post (11’) for Rennes while the hosts urgently sought some precision in their opponents’ penalty box. Alexis Claude-Maurice glanced a header wide from Adam Ounas’ cross (16’), and another centre from the Algeria international picked out Myziane Maolida at the back post. His header didn’t find the target either (19’).

Still, there was no let-up for the Breton defence and Dante would have had the opening goal but for Edouard Mendy, who brilliantly turned away the Brazilian centre-back’s header (24’). The Aiglons had racked up eight shots in the opening half-hour, with no reward.

That finally came after the break. Kasper Dolberg was handily placed inside the six-yard box to fire home Pierre Lees-Melou’s low cross (47’) and give Patrick Vieira’s men their just desserts.

e passe décisive de @PMelou
e réalisation de @Dolbergofficial #OGCNSRFC - (57') pic.twitter.com/fhS2lOa8EW

— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) January 24, 2020

Rennes responded through Mbaye Niang, who crashed a thunderous shot off Walter Benitez’s crossbar (64’). The home rearguard was finally beaten though when Flavien Tait got a lucky bounce off Danilo’s back, and fired past Benitez (81’) to earn a share of the spoils.M.S.

THE MATCH IN PICTURES :

Dante denied by Mendy

Myziane racing down the right

Cyprien  looking for Myziane

Myziane, picked out by Ounas, miscues his header

Claude-Maurice tries to block Mendy’s clearance

Lees-Melou tees up Dolberg for the opener

Ounas challenges Morel

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