Competition: France Ligue 1 2016-17
Date: Sunday, 12th February, 14:00 GMT
Stadium: Roazhon Park


Rennes vs Nice Preview

Title-challenging Nice are one of three teams who can realistically win Ligue 1 this season and remain just 3 points off the top with 15 games to play. They travel to Rennes on Sunday knowing that they could well be 6 points away from the summit by the time they kick off what may be a tricky fixture.

Nice have only been defeated twice in league action this season and just once since November, a 3-0 defeat away at top of the table Monaco. A narrow win over St Etienne in midweek has kept them within touching distance of the top but they will need to win this one with both Monaco and PSG having favourable matches this weekend.

Monaco’s stars have been Alassane Plea and former Inter Milan, Liverpool and AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who have 11 and 9 goals respectively. The pair have provided the crucial edge in a number of games this season and, aligned to a solid defence, they have kept Nice in contention for the ultimate prize.

Rennes meanwhile are in a run themselves and without a win since early December. They are currently on a run of 4 consecutive draws which has seen them fall a couple of places in the league, although they remain in 8th on 32 points. If they have hopes of staying in the top half however, they will have to start winning games regularly.

Although Nice have won plenty of games this season they have not been high scoring and that is why we think a bet of 2 or 3 goals is a decent shout for the game. That bet is valued at 20/21 with bet365 and is certainly worth a punt.

For our correct score prediction, we see Nice edging this match 2-1


HEAD TO HEAD
Nice won the reverse fixture on the first day of this season thanks to a Malang Sarr goal in the second half.
RENNES VS NICE STATS
Rennes are strong at home this season and have won 58% of their league matches there.
RENNES TEAM NEWS

Midfielder Gelson Fernandes will be suspended for this game, while goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi is out injured.
NICE TEAM NEWS

Defender Ricardo Pereira remains out of action for Nice.
RENNES VS NICE PREDICTIONS
over 2.5 goal