Nice – Stade Rennes: Rennes collapses again

Nice 2-1 Stade Rennes

Stade Rennes was to take points this Saturday. With 5 games to play before the end of the season, and fully launched in the race for European places, the SRFC faced Nice, an early season competitor now dropped from the race. For this meeting, Bruno Genesio composed without Meling (injured) and Wooh (sick). Belocian was lined up at left back, and Majer started in the middle of the 4-3-3.

defensive battle

In red, the Nice kicked off but Rennes quickly took the ball. Gouiri on a corner did not fit his head (4^e). During the first quarter of an hour, the two teams alternated possession phases without obtaining a conclusive opportunity. On a corner also, Nice did not fit twice by Todibo (13^e14^e). Doku finally framed the first strike of the match (15^e), easy for Schmeichel. Still on a corner, Traoré deflected a ball at the near post as an offering for Omari who arrived launched, which did not fit (17^e)!

Rennes supported and on the left side, a center from Majer was pushed back (19^e). The corner gave nothing, and the long shot from Bourigeaud on the following action flew away (22^e). Bourigeaud still found Gouiri well but the striker’s strike was pushed back (30^e). In this defensive battle, Moffi also did not fit his head (37^e), and both teams each locked in well. Majer got the best chance of the first period (41^e) by taking a header from Belocian that Schmeichel kicked out! Theate did not fit his shot in stride. Mandanda concluded the first period by coming out well ahead of Ramsey.

Laborde to open the scoring for Nice, big mistake by Theate

Abused after returning from the locker room, Rennes could count on Traoré (46^e) to repel a shot from Laborde. Laborde precisely, finally opened the scoring, on an action too well known by the Rennais. Bouanani on the right side had all the time he wanted to cross at the far post and find the former SRFC player who was tackling to deceive Mandanda (50^e). 1-0. The same goal as the one conceded against Angers last Sunday.

The reaction was timid on the Rennes side with Gouiri, whose center found no one. Rennes, on the other hand, left more space, and Boudaoui did not fit his recovery. In a real weak time after conceding the goal, the SRFC took risks in defense (60^e64^e), and was not hard-hitting in attack, Kalimuendo too short on a serve from Bourigeaud (65^e). Bourigeaud on a free kick still did not fit (68^e).

Kalimuendo replaced by Toko Ekambi, Gouiri still tried to overflow on the side but his cross was diverted (70^e). And while we thought of Rennes in the race, Moffi on counter took advantage of a catastrophic discount from Theate to pass in front of Mandanda and finish in an empty goal. 2-0. Returned, Rennes did not manage to be dangerous, the strike of Toko Ekambi passing well above (74^e). Nice broke free and the SRFC suffered the opposing waves, lucky to get away with certain shots.

Bourigeaud for hope, in vain

Then, a quarter of an hour from the end of the game, hope was reborn with a superb strike from Benjamin Bourigeaud, in the top corner (78^e). 2-1, and the SRFC could still believe it. Doku served by Salah missed his volley (84^e). Gouiri on a cross from Doku was too short to cut Rennes’ last good chance (88^e). Mandanda even repelled a shot from Lotomba afterwards (89^e). An off target shot from Bourigeaud (90+1^e) and a free kick without anyone on arrival (90+3^e) for Majer, and Rennes fell apart again.

At the end of a match that he will really regret, Stade Rennes loses to Nice. A real blow in the fight for places in the European Cup.

NICE 2-1 STADE RENNAIS FC (halftime score: 0-0)

Saturday May 6, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Allianz Cote d’Azur

Referee: Willy Delajod

Goals: Laborde (50^e), Mofi (72^e), Bourigeaud (78^e)

Warnings:

– Good : Schmeichel – Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Barde – Ramsey (73).^eRosario), Boudaoui, Thuram-Bouanani (73^eSection), Moffi, Laborde

Coach : Didier Digard.

– Stade Rennais FC: Mandanda – Traore, Omari, Theate, Belocian (78^eAssignon) – Bourigeaud, Ugochukwu (75^eScythe), Majer-Doku, Kalimuendo (69^eToko Ekambi), Gouiri

Coach : Bruno Genesio.