Nemanja Matić will not feature for Stade Rennais when they face OGC Nice on Saturday night. The Serbian midfielder left Rennes in order to force a move away from the club, and whilst he has now returned to the city, a departure is nonetheless expected.
Matić may now be back in Rennes, but he has no future in JulienStéphan’s side, as evidenced by his omission from the matchday squad. Baptiste Santamaria, who has seen gametime limited since Matić’s arrival, and who had been linked with a departure to Olympique Lyonnais, will be the benefactor. He is set to come into the midfield and will feature in a pivot alongside Enzo Le Fée.
Stéphan will be without Amine Gouiri and Lorenz Assignon, who are both out injured. The former was expected to represent Algeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, however, a knee injury put pay to the Rennes forward’s chances of participating in the competition.
Rennes likely lineup v Nice
Steve Mandanda; Adrien Truffert, Arthur Theate, Jeanuël Belocian, Guéla Doué; Benjamin Bourigeaud, Baptiste Santamaria, Enzo Le Fée, Ludovic Blas; Martin Terrier, Arnaud Kalimuendo. (L’Éq)
