Two penalties, a laser-guided shot and a hat-trick in a convincing win (5-2). Elye Wahi delighted the Allianz Riviera against Rennes last Friday and took to six his strikes in nine Matchdays this season (and 15 in 27 competitive appearances for the club since arriving in January). Let's take a look at some other memorable trebles for the Red-and-Blacks…

when was the last aiglon hat-TRICK? 

It was on 21 May 2022 when Christophe Galtier's team were close to losing it all on the final day of the season. Beaten in the Coupe de France final by Nantes and behind 2-0 to Reims at half-time, they looked in danger of ending the season on a low until Andy Delort scored three times in seven minutes (75’, 77’, 82’) to turn the atmosphere around completely. 

Les Aiglons took the points and finished in fifth place to qualify for Europe (despite having had a one-point deduction imposed by the LFP following the derby against Marseille).

THE LAST HAT-TRICK AT THE Allianz Riviera? 

That came on 28 April 2019 when a young Youcef Atal started against Guingamp as a left-winger having arrived at the club to play at right-back. With a volley, a solo run and a back-post sniper's effort he scored all three in his team's win. 

Other than Elye Wahi and Youcef Atal, only Hatem Ben Arfa has scored a hat-trick for Nice at home since the stadium was opened on 22 September 2013. It was on 10 April 2016 against Ousmane Dembélé's Rennes, and it was wonderful…

Before Hatem Ben Arfa, Kaba Diawara was the last to score a hat-trick for the Red-and-Blacks. He did that on the second day of the 2008/09 season in a 4-0 win over Strasbourg.

AND IN THE 21st CENTURY?

Other strikers have hit three in a game, but all away from home.

Victor Agali's efforts at Monaco in a 4-3 win on 2 October 2004 live long in the memory while Alassane Pléa scored three against Metz on 23 October 2016 and four at Guingamp on 11 March 2018. Carlos Eduardo went one better with five in a 7-2 win at Guingamp on 26 October 2014. 

Surprisingly, Mario Balotelli (43 goals) and Dario Cvitanich (36 goals) never hit a hat-trick with Le Gym.

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