Nice 0-4 Rennes Player Ratings: Rennes Run Riot in Stunning Away Win

Rennes produced a dominant performance as they secured a commanding victory over Nice at the Allianz Riviera in this Ligue 1 encounter. The visitors started the match with incredible intensity and quickly took control, leaving the home side struggling to keep up with their tempo.

The breakthrough came early when Estéban Lepaul opened the scoring, and Sebastian Szymanski soon doubled the advantage to put Rennes firmly in charge. Nice looked unsettled at the back, with Rennes repeatedly finding space and creating dangerous attacking moments.

In midfield, Valentin Rongier controlled the game brilliantly, dictating the tempo and helping Rennes maintain their dominance. Nice had a brief opportunity to shift momentum when they were awarded a penalty, but Yehvann Diouf produced a crucial save to deny them any comeback hopes.

Rennes continued their control in the second half and added more goals to seal a comprehensive win, completing a memorable performance away from home.

Check out the Nice vs Rennes Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Stade Rennais FC took early control with goals from Estéban Lepaul and Sebastian Szymanski.
• Valentin Rongier controlled the tempo and helped Stade Rennais FC dictate the match.
• Yehvann Diouf denied OGC Nice from the spot, ending any hopes of a comeback.

Nice Player Ratings vs Rennes

Here's a look at the Nice Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Yehvann Diouf - 6.0: A really tough day at the office for the keeper. He did make a fantastic penalty save which was a moment of personal brilliance. However, he was left exposed by his defense time and again, and ultimately shipped four goals. Can't be blamed for all of them, but it's a day he'll want to forget.

Defenders

Melvin Bard - 5.0: A disastrous performance. He conceded the penalty with a clumsy foul and was constantly troubled. We noticed he was dribbled past multiple times and struggled to contain the Rennes attack on his flank. Just a really poor outing.

Juma Bah - 5.5: Looked shaky and his error led to a shot. He lost possession far too many times in dangerous areas. While he recovered the ball a decent number of times, his mistakes were more memorable. He just couldn't cope with the pressure.

Kojo Peprah Oppong - 5.5: It’s harsh to judge him as his game was cut short by injury after just 18 minutes. In his short time on the pitch, the defense already looked vulnerable. We can't say if his presence would have changed things but it was a bad start.

Jonathan Clauss - 6.0: He tried to make things happen going forward, creating a few chances. But defensively, it was a different story. He was part of a backline that was completely torn apart. His attacking contributions were a small positive on a dark day.

Midfielders

Hicham Boudaoui - 5.0: Completely anonymous in the first half before being hooked. He barely got a touch and had no influence on the game whatsoever. It was no surprise to see him substituted at the break.

Morgan Sanson - 5.5: As the captain, you expect more leadership when the ship is sinking. Instead, he was overwhelmed in the midfield battle. He was dispossessed too easily and missed a big chance. A very forgettable performance.

Tom Louchet - 6.0: One of the few who showed a bit of fight. He won a good number of his duels and tried to drive the team forward. However, he also had an error that led to a shot and ultimately couldn't stem the tide against him.

Charles Vanhoutte - 6.5: Probably Nice's best player, which isn't saying much. He worked tirelessly and led the team in ball recoveries. He tried to create, but was fighting a losing battle all by himself in the middle of the park.

Forwards

Mohamed-Ali Cho - 5.0: Another player who was completely ineffective and subbed at halftime. He was caught offside twice and lost the ball frequently. He never looked like a threat to the Rennes defence.

Sofiane Diop - 5.5: He had a lot of touches but did very little with them. His final ball was lacking and he lost possession an alarming number of times. He was brought off after 70 minutes of running into brick walls.

Substitutes

Dante - 5.5: Came on for the injured Oppong and received a yellow card. The defense didn't improve with him on the pitch, they actually got worse.

Kail Boudache - 6.0: Showed some energy but couldn't impact the result.

Kevin Carlos - 6.0: Had a few blocked shots but couldn't provide the spark Nice needed.

Tiago Gouveia - 5.5: Came on and picked up a yellow card, contributing little else.

Antoine Mendy - 6.0: Had a shot saved late on, but the game was long gone.

Manager

C. Puel - 4.0: His team looked completely unprepared for Rennes' intensity. The tactical setup was wrong from the start and they were outclassed in every department. A truly shocking display that falls on the manager's shoulders.

Rennes Player Ratings vs Nice

Let's take a look at the Rennes Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Brice Samba - 7.5: Had a relatively quiet day but was solid when called upon. He made a crucial save to deny Cho in the first half and commanded his area well. Keeping a clean sheet away from home is always a job well done.

Defenders

Lilian Brassier - 8.0: A rock at the back. He was dominant in the air and his reading of the game was superb, leading to six interceptions. Nice's forwards got no change out of him all game. An imperious defensive display.

Anthony Rouault - 8.0: So comfortable in possession, completing 96% of his passes. He made a staggering 9 clearances, snuffing out any hint of danger. What stood out was his composure on the ball under pressure.

Mahamadou Nagida - 7.5: A very strong performance at full-back. He was excellent in his duels and made several key interceptions. He was a force both defensively and when supporting the attack before his injury.

Quentin Merlin - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance on the other flank. He was positionally sound and made some important tackles and clearances. Didn't put a foot wrong all game.

Midfielders

Valentin Rongier - 9.5: A midfield masterclass and our clear man of the match. He ran the show from start to finish, providing two assists and creating five chances. His 12 ball recoveries show his defensive work rate too. A truly complete, highest-rated player performance.

Mahdi Camara - 7.0: The perfect foil for Rongier. He did the simple things effectively, kept possession moving, and won his duels. A disciplined and effective performance that allowed others to shine.

Sebastian Szymanski - 7.5: Scored the crucial second goal with a composed finish. He was a livewire in his 45 minutes on the pitch, constantly looking to get into dangerous positions. A very effective half of football.

Forwards

Estéban Lepaul - 7.0: A strange game for the striker. He scored the opener with a good finish, showing his poacher's instinct. But then he had a penalty saved. Overall a positive contribution but the missed penalty docks him a few points.

Mousa Tamari - 8.5: A constant menace. He won the penalty and assisted a goal. His dribbling and pace terrified the Nice defence. We were surprised he was taken off, he looked capable of causing even more damage.

Arnaud Nordin - 7.0: He was a willing runner and put in a great shift for the team. While he didnt get a goal or assist, his movement created space for others. A selfless and energetic performance.

Substitutes

Djaoui Cissé - 6.5: Slotted into midfield and kept things ticking over.

Ludovic Blas - 7.5: Came on and scored a well-taken goal. Great impact.

Breel Embolo - 7.0: Provided the assist for Blas's goal shortly after coming on.

Nordan Mukiele - 7.5: Scored a fantastic long-range goal to put the cherry on top.

Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal - N/A: Came on too late to make an impact.

Manager

F. Haise - 9.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. His team was aggressive, clinical, and defensively solid. The substitutions were spot on, with three of them getting involved in goals. A tactical masterclass from the Rennes boss.

Man of the Match

Valentin Rongier was the undisputed man of the match in the Nice vs Rennes game.

Worst Performer

Melvin Bard had a very difficult game for Nice, notably conceding a penalty.