Stade Rennais FC produced a commanding performance to claim a 4-0 victory over OGC Nice at the Allianz Riviera, extending their winning run in Ligue 1 to four matches, their joint-longest streak since February 2024.
Rennes made an immediate impact, opening the scoring with the very first shot of the match.
Valentin Rongier drove forward and cut the ball back for Esteban Lepaul, who fired emphatically into the net to give the visitors an early advantage.
The opening goal allowed Rennes to take control of proceedings. Musa Al-Taamari threatened from distance before turning provider moments later, setting up Sebastian Szymański, whose deflected effort doubled the lead for the visitors.
Rennes continued to press for more, with Arnaud Nordin coming close before the half-hour mark, dragging an effort wide from a tight angle and later slipping in the box at a crucial moment, allowing goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf to gather comfortably.
Nice briefly thought they had pulled one back when Morgan Sanson finished neatly for what would have been his sixth Ligue 1 goal contribution against Rennes.
However, the effort was ruled out after Mohamed-Ali Cho was judged offside during the buildup.
The hosts’ frustration deepened when Rennes were awarded a penalty after Melvin Bard brought down Al-Taamari in the area.
Diouf saved Lepaul’s spot-kick, and although Al-Taamari headed in the rebound, the goal was disallowed due to encroachment.
Both goalkeepers were called into action late in the first half. Brice Samba denied Cho’s attempted lob before Diouf parried a powerful effort from Rongier to keep the scoreline unchanged heading into the break.
Nice attempted to respond after halftime and introduced fresh legs, including Kail Boudache, whose powerful strike forced Samba into a fine save.
The home side pushed forward and came close to reducing the deficit when Kevin Carlos glanced a free header wide from close range, while Tom Louchet struck the crossbar with an acrobatic effort as Nice searched for a way back into the contest.
However, Rennes eventually sealed the win after making a triple substitution. Breel Embolo set up the decisive third goal, but the highlight belonged to Ludovic Blas, who produced a brilliant solo run before calmly finishing into the far corner.
Another substitute, Nordi Mukiele, added further gloss to the result in stoppage time with a composed finish past Diouf.
The emphatic victory lifts Rennes into the European qualification places, while Nice remain just above the relegation zone after extending their winless league run to seven matches (four draws and three defeats), leaving them only five points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
