OGC Nice secured a valuable victory on Friday evening by defeating Stade Rennais 3-2 during the 16th round of Ligue 1. The Aiglons displayed remarkable efficiency in the first half, proving lethal against a Rennes side determined to take points from the Allianz Riviera. With this success, Franck Haise’s men continue their upward trajectory and are now just three points behind AS Monaco, currently third in the standings.
Sofiane Diop continues to establish himself as a key figure in Nice’s attack this season. Scoring his fourth goal of the campaign, following those against Saint-Étienne, Lille, and Lyon, the Moroccan international has rediscovered his form. Always opportunistic, Diop capitalized on a significant mistake by Steve Mandanda in the 34th minute.
As the Rennes goalkeeper mishandled a pass in the middle of the field, Diop intercepted the ball and delivered an unstoppable right-footed strike into the bottom corner. This decisive action allowed Nice to regain the lead in what was a closely contested match.
Speaking to DAZN after the game, Sofiane Diop analyzed his team’s performance and highlighted the importance of managing key moments:
“This Rennes team came here to take points. We were aware of the context. We wanted to start the game in the best way possible. That worked well, even though we conceded a goal from an error. That goal could have been avoided, but we managed to bounce back and score.”
Reflecting on Mandanda’s error, he added:
“We created that mistake, and we managed to score from it.”
Starting the match, Sofiane Diop once again impressed before being substituted in the 85th minute. His consistency and commitment offer OGC Nice a reliable offensive weapon in their pursuit of European qualification. With this victory, Nice cements its ambitions and continues to position itself as a serious contender in the upper echelon of Ligue 1.
