Rennes (AFP)
Nice dropped Rennes for the first time this season with another 2-1 victory thanks to a goal from defender Racine Coly in stoppage time (90 + 2) on Sunday. 4th day of Ligue 1.
This success of the men of Patrick Vieira, who began to take shape with a penalty converted by Wylan Cyprien (63), allows them to join their victims of the day at the top of the standings, on equal points also with Paris Saint-Germain.
In terms of statistics, Nice, who had already ripped the victory at the very end of the match against Amiens - at the 90 + 5 - during the first day, continues to justify his status as beast of black Rennes: 6 victories of the Gym and 3 draws in the last 9 meetings between the two clubs "Red and Black" of Ligue 1.
Stade Rennais has long believed to have ideally launched the promotion of his campaign in the Europa League, Sunday in a Roazhon Park almost full, facing a nice brave OGC but decimated in central defense (Dante, Hérelle and Sarr absent).
The Bretons led the break after opening the scoring when the young Gautier Lloris, little brother of the goalkeeper of the Blues, could not push a header of defender Jérémy Morel (25), already scorer in Montpellier (1-0) in opening of the championship.
It was on a corner obtained by Faitout Maouassa and shot by Clément Grenier. Another former Lyonnais very prominent during a first period controlled by the Rennais, authors of 8 shots including 3 squared, but leaving possession of the ball in Nice (58%).
Change of scenery in the second period, with Niçois still vigilant but much more mobile, including Youcef Atal, very stirring. On the hour, Damien Da Silva saved the game in front of the little Algerian winger, then Jérémy Morel tapped Cyprien in extremis.
This period of domination niçoise concluded with a deserved penalty, Atal being sandwiched, at the entrance of the surface, by Benjamin Bourigeaud and Hamari Traoré. Captain Cyprien transformed it by taking Mendy off course (63).
A quarter of an hour from the end, the two young coaches decided to bring new blood. Then Walter Benitez came out in front of Niang, who was looking to get a header from Del Castillo (76) and boxed the ball.
Rennes took a little control of the ball and got another corner (83) after a long sequence of possession, but again the Nice allowed the storm to pass. A few minutes later, the first mess without any immediate consequences for the Rennes. But on the corner that followed, Coly, alone at the far post, gave the victory to Nice, thigh (90 + 2).
The international truce will be welcome for Rennes, who missed his second period but still remains at the top of Ligue 1, with Nice, after a start of the season a little unexpected. Until this defeat not totally illogical.
© 2019 AFP