Preview: Nice vs. Rennes - prediction, team news, lineups

Nice will play host to Rennes on Saturday in a key battle at the top end of the Ligue 1 table.

Just two points now separate the sides in third and fourth places, with the visitors having climbed into the top three thanks to a run of five straight victories.

Match preview

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Following the appointment of Christophe Galtier, who won the Ligue 1 title against the odds with Lille last season, in the summer, Nice have enjoyed a stellar campaign in the French top flight, consistently battling in the top four.

With 49 points from their opening 27 outings, Les Aiglons only trailed French giants Paris Saint-Germain, but they suffered a brief blip in the run-up to the international break, firstly having to settle for a goalless draw away at Montpellier as defender Dante was sent off in the first half.

In their most recent outing, Galtier's men met Marseille, and they would fall further behind the new second-placed side after a 2-1 defeat, as Mario Lemina's goal came too late to inspire a turnaround after Arkadiusz Milik and Cedric Bakambu had put Les Olympiens 2-0 up.

Following that pair of underwhelming results, Les Aiglons have dropped to fourth spot, although, with the chance to leapfrog their third-placed opponents with a home win, they will remain optimistic of achieving Champions League qualification.

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Their visitors, on the other hand, have seemingly grown into the season after a mixed start, having now climbed into the top three thanks to an eye-catching run of form.

Les Rennais did enjoy a fine run of results late last year but went on to battle through an inconsistent spell in the following months, and they seem to have now rediscovered their best form.

Bruno Genesio's side firstly bounced back from a narrow defeat to league leaders Paris Saint-Germain by thrashing Troyes, before going on to beat Montpellier, Angers, Lyon and Metz, all of which coming by a margin of two goals or more.

In those five games, Les Rennais found the net 20 times, with the most recent Metz win arguably being the most eye-catching, as they posted a dominant 6-1 victory with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick alongside a brace from Martin Terrier and a Hamari Traore effort.

Having headed into the break as the league's form side, Rennes will aim to return in similar fashion with the chance to move into the top two with what would be a statement win on their travels.

Team News

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Nice should come into the game with a fully fit squad, and they will welcome experienced centre-back Dante back into the squad after his suspension against Marseille.

The dangerous duo of Amine Gouiri and Andy Delort could again be deployed in attack, having contributed 10 and seven goals in Ligue 1 respectively this season, while Danish international Kasper Dolberg will also be vying for a starting berth.

Elsewhere, Justin Kluivert will hope to feature out wide from the outset, while Dutch compatriot Calvin Stengs's position may be on the line as a result of his slow start to life in the French top flight following a move from AZ Alkmaar last summer.

Rennes, meanwhile, will have to battle with injuries all across the pitch, as key winger Jeremy Doku is sidelined along with first-choice goalkeeper Alfred Gomis, centre-back Loic Bade and attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana.

That did not seem to affect them against Metz, though, and the attacking duo of Serhou Guirassy and Martin Terrier will lead the line full of confidence after contributing a hat-trick and a brace respectively in that game.

Benjamin Bourigeaud has been a mainstay for Les Rennais this season, and he is bound to feature on Saturday, either on the right-hand side of a front three or in the heart of midfield.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Thuram, Schneiderlin, Lemina, Kluivert; Gouiri, Delort

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Alemdar; Traore, Omari, Aguerd, Meling; Majer, Santamaria, Tait; Bourigard, Guirassy, Terrier

We say: Nice 2-2 Rennes

As two of the league's strongest sides do battle we predict a close and exciting affair.

The international break may have hampered Rennes' growing momentum, while Nice boast plenty of quality and will be desperate to avoid a defeat on home turf, and we opt for a high-scoring draw as a result.