Four days after qualifying for the semi-final of the Coupe de France, Le Gym suffered a heavy home defeat against Stade Rennais (0–4).

Compared to the line-up that secured qualification against FC Lorient in the Coupe de France on Wednesday, Claude Puel made five changes to his starting eleven: Hicham Boudaoui returned to midfield, Youssouf Bah started in central defence, while Mohamed-Ali Cho and Tom Louchet played on the wings with Sofiane Diop up front. Yehvann Diouf, Melvin Bard, Nathan Oppong, Jonathan Clauss, Mathias Vanhoutte, and captain Morgan Sanson completed the Nice side, set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

A VERY LIVELY FIRST HALF

Right from the start, Les Aiglons left too much space to Rennes, who took advantage to open the scoring with their first real chance. Lepaul finished with his right foot after a cut-back cross from Valentin Rongier inside the box, beating Diouf (0–1, 13’). Nice struggled to create real danger, and Rennes quickly doubled their lead when Sebastian Szymański scored with a deflected shot after a pass from Mousa Al‑Tamari (0–2, 20’).

After the half-hour mark, Nice tried to respond. Cho beat Merlin on the right and cut the ball back for Sanson, who beat Brice Samba with a fine angled strike and thought he had pulled one back. However, Cho had been offside earlier in the move and the goal was disallowed (31’).

Rennes continued to trouble the Nice defence and were awarded a penalty after Bard challenged Al-Tamari in the box (34’). As he had against Lorient in the Coupe de France, Diouf saved Lepaul’s penalty. Al-Tamari then headed in the rebound and thought he had made it 3–0, but the referee ruled it out because he had entered the penalty-area before Lepaul struck the ball (36’).

Towards the end of the first half, Nice became more dangerous. From an excellent cross by Clauss, Cho controlled the ball in the box and shot from close range, but Samba pushed it away for a corner (44’). Just before half-time, Diouf dived to stop a half-volley from Rongier (45’). Les Aiglons went into the break two goals down.

NICE TRY TO COME BACK, BUT…

Early in the second half the game slowed, with a well-organised Rennes side managing their advantage. Nice still tried to respond. Boudache, who came on for Boudaoui, attempted a cross-shot from the right that Samba tipped away (50’).

Kevin Carlos, also introduced at half-time in place of Cho, then headed a superb lofted cross from Clauss, but his effort went just centimetres wide (65’). Louchet saw his shot deflected for a corner (69’), and seconds later Boudache attempted an acrobatic effort from close range after the corner, but the ball struck the crossbar (69’).

Nice would pay dearly for those missed chances against a ruthless Rennes side. After a long run forward, Ludovic Blas fired an unstoppable left-footed strike to make it three (74’).

In the final minutes, Nice tried to salvage some pride. Samba stretched both hands to push away a close-range shot from Mendy, and Sanson tried his luck with his left foot but sent the ball over the bar (90’). Moments later, Mukiele curled in a right-footed shot for Rennes’ fourth goal (90+2’). Le Gym were beaten.

FOCUS ON ANGERS

The team from the Côte d’Azur currently sit in 15th in Ligue 1 with 24 points, five more than AJ Auxerre, who occupy the relegation play-off spot. Next Saturday, OGC Nice travel to Angers SCO for the 26th round of Ligue 1. Kick-off is scheduled for 7pm at the Stade Raymond Kopa.