Terrier frustrates Nice to put Rennes second in Ligue 1

Paris (AFP) – Martin Terrier grabbed the equaliser to fire Rennes second in Ligue 1 with a 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday.

The French forward struck with 12 minutes to go after Andy Delort had nodded Nice ahead after 67 minutes at the Allianz Riviera.

Terrier connected with Benjamin Bourigeaud’s free kick to head in his 17th goal of the season to go joint top of the scorers chart alongside Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder.

Rennes defender Warmed Omari did well to keep out a Youcef Atal effort with four minutes to go with Nice goalkeeper Walter Benitez denying Terrier a second late.

Rennes are 12 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain who host another Brittany side Lorient on Sunday.

Marseille are equal on points with Rennes, but drop to third with their scheduled match later Saturday pushed back a day until Sunday because of snow in Saint-Etienne.

Marseille had made the trip north hoping to edge closer to table-toppers Paris Saint-Germain, while ‘Les Verts’ (The Greens) are third from bottom of the league and battling relegation.

Nice missed the chance to go second and are fourth, two points behind Rennes and Marseille, but just three points clear of Strasbourg who host Lens Sunday.