Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
A solid finish to the calendar year has allowed OGC Nice to edge closer to the top five. Meanwhile, Stade Rennais are experiencing a less favourable situation—while they perform consistently against the league's lower teams, challenges arise when facing top sides or peers, leading to difficulties in securing points.
OGC Nice
In 15 Ligue 1 matches, Nice have scored 28 goals—only Marseille (32) and Paris Saint-Germain (44) have stronger attacks. In their away draw against Montpellier (2:2), the team achieved 1.12 xG with six shots on target, with the lost points largely attributed to squad rotation. Notably, at home, Nice have secured three wins in four matches since late October—a feat matched by only four other teams in the competition.
Stade Rennais
At home, Stade Rennais have also shown respectable form, but their away record is among the poorest in Ligue 1. In seven away games, they have picked up just one point and scored four goals—second to last, only ahead of Montpellier. Against Nantes (0:1), Stade Rennais managed just 0.27 xG over 90 minutes, and without the dismissed Mikayil Faye, they had to patch up their defence by replacing a forward.
OGC Nice vs Stade Rennais Prediction
Since May 2023, Nice have defeated Stade Rennais twice in home fixtures (2:1 and 2:0). They are charging towards a European competition spot, so it makes sense to back them with a zero handicap.
