As the new year dawns, Nice and Rennes are set to resume Ligue 1 competition at the Allianz Riviera on Friday. The two sides have met in the first match of the year for the past three seasons, with Rennes winning the previous two encounters.
Nice, who currently sit in sixth place, will be aiming to extend their unbeaten home record in the French top-flight.
Frank Heise’s men narrowly avoided an embarrassing Coupe de France exit against National 3 team Corté just before the winter break, needing a penalty to progress after dropping a man.
In their most recent league outings, Nice twice lost one-goal leads to a 2-2 draw at bottom-placed Montpellier.
Rennes, on the other hand, sit 12th in the Ligue 1 standings and are just four points off the relegation zone. Breton club manager dismissed Julien Stephan At the start of the season, Jorge Sampaoli took charge.
Sampaoli has won three of his first five games, including a 2-0 win over Bordeaux in the Coupe de France.
team news
Nice will be without key players including top scorer Terem Morphy, midfielder Morgan Sanson and veteran defender Dante due to injury.
Meanwhile, Rennes will be without the help of Alidu Seidu, who is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Possible lineup
Nice: (4-3-3)
bun;
Klaus, Rosary, Bombito, Bard;
Buanani, Budaoui, Ndombele;
LaVerde, Guessand, Diop
Ren: (3-4-3)
Mandanda;
Hateboer, Ostigard, Truffert;
Assignon, James, Matusiwa, Nagida;
Guiri Blas, California
Given Nice’s impressive home form and Rennes’ struggles on the road, the hosts are expected to emerge victorious in this encounter. A tight and open game is expected with Nice having a narrow lead.
