Elye Wahi treble powers Nice to emphatic win over Rennes

Nice extended their unbeaten home run to nine matches with a 5-2 victory over Rennes, as Elye Wahi scored a hat-trick and dealt a setback to the Ligue 1 title challengers.

The result moved Nice up to seventh before the weekend fixtures, while Rennes stayed second but remain four points behind PSG at the top of the table. It was Rennes’ second defeat in their last three league matches, giving the chasing teams an opportunity to close the gap.

Both sides attacked with intent from the opening minutes. Adrien Thomasson fired high and wide for the visitors, while Nicolas Lemaitre raced from his goal to prevent Wahi from taking advantage of an early opening.

The Nice striker soon won a penalty after reaching the ball before the goalkeeper, and calmly sent Lemaitre the wrong way from the spot to put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes.

Rennes responded almost immediately. Mahamadou Nagida produced an accurate cross for Sebastian Szymanski, who headed past the Nice defence and into the net three minutes later.

Hicham Boudaoui tested the visitors’ goal with two ambitious efforts from distance, while Mousa Tamari escaped the offside trap but could only shoot wide under pressure from Youssouf Ndayishimiye.

Tamari’s miss proved costly when Nice regained the lead in the 34th minute. Jonathan Clauss weaved through several white-shirted defenders before Valentin Rongier brought him down, allowing Wahi to score his second penalty of the game.

Rennes came close to another quick equaliser. Yehvann Diouf kept out Boulaye Dia’s shot at the second attempt, then tipped a powerful effort from Nagida over the crossbar.

Nice instead added a third just before the interval. Wahi flicked the ball away from Anthony Rouault and into Clauss’ path, with the full-back finishing emphatically.

The hosts continued to threaten after the restart, with one Mohamed Amoura effort looping on to the roof of Lemaitre’s net. Amoura went on to score in the 52nd minute, completing a swift attacking move by beating both the goalkeeper and Nagida with a low finish.

Rennes reduced the deficit six minutes later. Niels Nkounkou fouled Tamari inside the area and Dia converted the resulting penalty to make it 4-2.

The visitors then increased the pressure. Rouault’s header from a rehearsed free-kick was saved, while Tamari headed wide from a corner. Nagida appeared to pull another goal back when he turned in Tamari’s low cross, but he had strayed marginally offside.

Nagida was involved in the decisive moment at the other end, failing to deal with a cross and allowing Gauthier Hein to set up Wahi. The forward completed his hat-trick, scoring his fifth goal in his past three matches.

Eliezer Mayenda shot narrowly over as Rennes looked for another response, but Nice comfortably secured their fourth win in five games.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Elye Wahi (Nice)