Rennes-Nice Statistical Preview

Rennes Paul-Georges Ntep will not feature against Nice as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained shortly before the international break.
 However, Rennes welcome both Giovanni Sio and Yacouba Sylla back from suspension this weekend, who will go straight into the starting XI. Midfielder Gelson Fernandes has received the green light from the medical staff and may feature this weekend, as revealed by Philippe Montanier.
 Nice Mouez Hassen pulled out of France U-21 international duty with a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined this weekend, while Sunday's fixture will come too soon for colleague Simon Pouplin.
Third-choice goalkeeper Yoan Cardinale will therefore make his first career start against Rennes, with Maxime Le Marchand and possibly Romain Genevois returning to Ligue 1 action just in time for Nice to field their strongest defence available. Hatem Ben Arfa will continue to partner Valère Germain up front in what has been a goalscoring duo thus far. Prediction Rennes are on an unusual series of draws - having seen their last four league matches end with a 1-1 scoreline - heading into this fixture, which has moved them down to fourth before gameweek 10. While Paul-Georges Ntep's absence came as a huge blow,
Philippe Montanier's men have already successfully managed without their key man at the beginning of the season. Valère Germain's brace against Nantes a couple of weeks ago will have accounted for nothing as the match was abandoned at half-time due to the heavy rain, but les Aiglons proved against Saint-Etienne and les Canaris that, despite Mickaël Le Bihan and Alassane Pléa's absences, they could still maintain their goalscoring form.
Both sides have had very little opportunities to play on TV on Sunday evenings in recent years due to their latest disappointing campaigns in Ligue 1, but this weekend's match should be a hugely entertaining one as the most prolific attack of the division faces a pleasant Rennes side on home soil.