Nice sweep aside Rennes in seven-goal thriller

Nice secured an emphatic 5-2 home victory over Rennes in Round 9 of French Ligue 1. Elye Wahi starred with a hat-trick (12', 35', 73'), converting two penalties in the process. Jonathan Clauss (45+2') and Mohamed Amoura (52') were also on target for the hosts, while Sebastian Szymański (15') and Boulaye Dia (58' pen) replied for the visitors.

Nice broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Wahi slotted home from the penalty spot after being brought down by goalkeeper Nicolas Lemaître. Rennes responded just three minutes later, with Szymański heading in the equalizer from Mahamadou Nagida's cross.

In the 35th minute, the hosts were awarded a second spot-kick after Valentin Rongier fouled Clauss inside the area, and Wahi made no mistake from 12 yards. In first-half stoppage time, the forward turned provider, regaining possession and backheeling the ball to Clauss, who rifled a powerful strike into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Seven minutes after the restart, Amoura extended Nice's advantage, finishing off a swift counter-attack with a clinical strike. In the 58th minute, Dia pulled one back for 4-2 from the spot following a foul on Mousa Al-Tamari.

Rennes thought they had reduced the deficit further in the 70th minute through Nagida, but his effort was chalked off following a VAR review. Just three minutes later, Wahi completed his hat-trick from a Gauthier Hein assist to put the result beyond doubt.

The win lifts Nice to seventh place in the Ligue 1 table on 14 points. Rennes, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to close in on the summit and remain second with 16 points.