Jérémie Boga was on target again as OGC Nice reclaimed top spot in Ligue 1 Uber Eats from Paris Saint-Germain with a 2-0 win over Stade Rennais FC.
THE MATCH
Khéphren Thuram gave Rennes an early scare at the Allianz Riviera when he got clear down the left before firing off target (4') but the visitors looked to respond immediately, with Ludovic Blas forcing Marcin Bulka into a good low save (5'). Boga created a chance at the other end with a quick turn of pace, but Hicham Boudaoui blasted his subsequent effort wide (12'). Boga looked up for it and did well to beat Warmed Omari to the byline just inside the half-hour only to see a cross cleared by Jeanuël Belocian (29'). Rennes nearly took the lead against the run of play when Martin Terrier cut back for Benjamin Bourigeaud, but Bulka punched his effort clear (32'). Most of the first-half traffic flowed in the opposite direction from there, though, and after Thuram turned and fired over (42'), Boga broke the deadlock with a smart close-range finish (45').
Late red cards
Steve Mandanda kept the score down at the start of the second half with a brilliant reaction save to deny Boudaoui again (47'). Blas then did well to rise above Jean-Clair Todibo to meet Adrien Truffert's cross into the Nice box, but Bulka was able to save comfortably (52'). Blas and Terrier made way for Arnaud Kalimuendo and Désiré Doué just inside the hour (59') and Bruno Génésio tried to get his side going, but Nice had the next chance, Boudaoui turning provider for Boga with a low cross into the area only for the Ivorian to flashed his shot over the bar (62'). Nice ended the game with ten men when Youssouf Ndayishimiye was sent off for a late challenge on Enzo le Fée (75') but Rennes followed suit with Omari fouling Evann Guessand as the last man (85') Sofiane Diop curled home the resulting free-kick, via Mandanda (87') for a 2-0 win.
THE PLAYER: Jérémie Boga
This was another inspired performance from Boga, who has now been involved in three of Nice's last five goals. Boga has had to settle for a place on the bench at times this season following his summer arrival from Atalanta, but has gradually won Franco Farioli's faith and the coach is being rewarded with a purple patch from the Ivorian.
THE STAT: 14
Nice are now undefeated in their last 14 matches in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, stretching back to May when they were beaten 2-0 by RC Strasbourg Alsace. Champions PSG will have their work cut out trying to topple them this season by the looks of things.
