Nice 0-4 Rennes: Ligue 1 2025-26 match report

The Allianz Riviera was the site of a comprehensive tactical dismantling on Sunday, as Rennes secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Nice in a Ligue 1 fixture that highlighted the growing gap in clinical efficiency between the two sides. Franck Haise’s Rennes side executed their 4-3-3 system with precision, leaving Claude Puel’s Nice team struggling to find a foothold in a match that effectively ended as a contest before the halftime whistle.

The opening

Rennes set the tempo from the opening whistle, utilizing their numerical advantage in midfield to stifle Nice’s attempts to build from the back. The breakthrough arrived in the 13th minute when E. Lepaul found the net, finishing a well-constructed move initiated by V. Rongier. The goal appeared to rattle the Nice defensive structure, leading to an early tactical shift from Puel. In the 18th minute, the manager opted to withdraw Dante, introducing K. Peprah Oppong in an attempt to stabilize a backline that was being pulled out of position by Rennes’ fluid front three.

The adjustment failed to stem the tide. Just two minutes later, S. Szymański doubled the lead, converting an assist from Mousa Tamari to put the visitors 2-0 up inside twenty minutes. Nice struggled to respond, and while they avoided further damage in the first half—aided by a VAR intervention that cancelled a third Rennes goal in the 37th minute—the damage to their defensive confidence was already done. Dante, though substituted earlier, was recorded with a yellow card in the 36th minute, reflecting the frustration and lack of composure that defined Nice's first-half performance.

The decisive moment

Coming out for the second half, Puel attempted to reshape his side by introducing H. Boudaoui and M. Cho, while Rennes utilized their depth to manage the game’s intensity. Despite the changes, Nice remained unable to penetrate the Rennes defensive block. The match settled into a period of control for the visitors, who seemed content to manage the clock while waiting for gaps to appear in the Nice defense.

The decisive moment that extinguished any lingering hopes of a Nice comeback occurred in the 74th minute. L. Blas, having been a constant threat throughout the afternoon, added his name to the scoresheet with a clinical finish assisted by B. Embolo. The 3-0 scoreline allowed Haise to utilize his bench extensively, rotating personnel to maintain energy levels for the final stages of the match.

Even with the result secured, Rennes maintained their intensity. In the 90th minute, N. Mukiele capped off the evening by adding a fourth goal, once again assisted by the industrious V. Rongier. The final 4-0 scoreline was a fair reflection of a match in which Rennes dictated the terms of engagement from start to finish, while Nice lacked the cohesion required to challenge their opponents' defensive setup.

Looking ahead

For Rennes, the result serves as a significant statement of intent, demonstrating their ability to dominate away from home and maintain concentration for the full 90 minutes. Conversely, the heavy defeat forces Claude Puel to re-evaluate his defensive setup and personnel as Nice look to recover their form in the final stretch of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign.