Nice back on Ligue 1 summit, Monaco keep up the pace with Brest win

Nice regained the top spot in Ligue 1 on Sunday with a 2-0 victory against Stade Rennais at home, while AS Monaco enjoyed a similar win at home against Brest.

Jeremie Boga's first-half goal and a late free kick by Sofiane Diop, which deflected off Rennes keeper Steve Mandanda, secured Nice their fourth consecutive win.

Second-placed Paris St Germain heightened the pressure on the top position by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Montpellier on Friday.

Nice now lead the table with 25 points, one point ahead of PSG and two ahead of Monaco in third place.

Nice have 25 points from 11 Ligue 1 matches this season, their second-highest total at this stage in the last 45 years, behind 2016/17 (29 points - finished 3rd) #OGCNSRFC https://t.co/zj3zzwxbav
— OGC Nice 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ogcnice_eng) November 5, 2023

Right before the break, Nice broke the deadlock when Terem Moffi's cross sneaked past the defence, reaching the far post, where an unattended Boga slotted it in.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye of Nice was given a straight red card in the 75th minute following a VAR review due to his sliding tackle on Enzo Le Fee.

Nice earned a free kick just outside the box five minutes before the end, when Warmed Omari was shown a direct red card for pushing Evann Guessand. The ensuing shot by Diop struck the crossbar and ricocheted off Mandanda's back into the net.

Monaco dispelled any doubts that last weekend's loss to Lille had been a fluke, as goals from Denis Zakaria and Aleksandr Golovin earned them a 2-0 victory against Brest.

Brest thought they had taken an early lead when Jeremy Le Douaron tapped in a cross, but the effort was chalked off after a VAR check for a previous foul.

Monaco broke the deadlock when Zakaria headed home from a corner after 16 minutes.

Both teams were aggressive and found the net in quick succession around the half-hour mark, but both goals were denied for offside.

Golovin was left unmarked after 69 minutes to double Monaco's lead, receiving a cross inside the box and skilfully placing his finish into the top corner.

Brest hit the woodwork twice, and defender Lilian Brassier was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a foul in the dying moments of the match.