Rennais visitation of the Niçois

With the Carnaval de Nice in the backdrop, Stade du Ray will the setting for a match that will go a long way in deciding Rennais chances at winning a berth in European competition. For the Rouge & Noir who were flying on the wings of a long unbeaten streak, the previous four matches have inspired only modest hope that they may return to the form that saw them flicker briefly at the top of the league. Now seventh in the table and level the Niçois, points are needed to stay abreast of l'OM and Toulouse. Complicating things is Frédéric Antonetti's side who have returned to form after a brief lull in January, staging last gasp victories in successive weeks over Le Mans and Nancy.

Given the situation, Guy Lacombe has promised that there will be no holding back in the trip to the Côte d’Azur and very attacking plan will be used. His Bretons unit will be without Kader Mangane who sustained a late injury in practice but will be replaced by the highly regarded Bira Dembele. However Julián Estéban, Jérôme Leroy, Sylvain Marveaux and Asamoah Gyan will miss to injury with Moussa Sow out to suspension. Judging from the training grounds, a similar lineup of last week is expected with Jirès Kembo Ekoko provided another valuable learning experience across from Olivier Thomert in the attack with Mickaël Pagis and Jimmy Briand.