Nice vs Rennes Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Returning from the winter break, Nice sit are hovering around the European spots as the southerners prepare to welcome a Rennes side hoping for a major Jorge Sampaoli boost.

Kick-off date/time: Friday 3rd January, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports

How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports

Nice Preview: Inconsistent Nice

Over the summer, INEOS-owned Nice appointed Lens boss Franck Haise but they have underwhelmed at the start of the season. The southerners do remain tucked inside the top six and the European spots ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.

They went into the winter break on the back of a 2-2 draw with Montpellier Herault last month before then defeating lower league Corte in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France. They have won just one of their last six matches inside 90 minutes across all competitions.

Rennes Preview: The Rennes revolution

During the November international break, Stade Rennais took the decision to sack Julian Stephan and replace him with former Argentina boss Jorge Sampaoli, famed for his extremely aggressive and intense pressing style of football.

Rennes have been inconsistent at the start of the Jorge Sampaoli reign but, with a winter break allowing for a more intense regime and something of a reset, there will be a hope that Rennes can now propel themselves towards the area of the table that Nice currently occupy.

Nice Team News: Several doubts

42-year-old club captain Dante remains sidelined due to a knee injury with Nice also dealing with several key first-team injury doubts such as defender Mohamed Abdelmonem, midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye and attacker Jeremie Boga.

Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Bulka; Louchet, Rosario, Moise Bombito, Clauss; Boudaoui; Guessand, Bouanani, Ndombele, Diop; Laborde

Unavailable: Dante (Injured), Moffi (Injured)

Questionable: Abdelmonem (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Abdi (Injured), Ndayishimiye (Injured), Sanson (Injured), Orakpo (Injured), Boga (Injured), Cho (Injured)

Rennes Team News: Gouiri doubt

In Jorge Sampaoli’s opening game in charge of Rennes, Ghana international defender Alidu Seidu suffered an ACL injury and he remains sidelined for the visitors with former Lyon forward Amine Gouiri also an injury doubt for this weekend.

Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Mandanda; Hateboer, Ostigard, Truffert; Assignon, Blas, Matusiwa, James, Nagida; Gouiri; Kalimuendo

Unavailable: Seidu (Injured)

Questionable: Gouiri (Injured)

Nice vs Rennes Prediction

Nice play quite a proactive style of football but they haven’t quite been as effective as Haise’s Lens were over the last couple of seasons. They are in a strong position to launch themselves forward, though, after the winter break. Rennes have put in some impressive performances under Jorge Sampaoli and they will now be able to take that on a bit further as they travel to the Allianz Riviera with an entertaining encounter to be expected in which both teams scoring seems a good bet.

Nice vs Rennes Tip: Both teams to score