Nice's title challenge stutters with draw against Rennes

Giovanni Sio had fired Rennes into a 2-0 lead.
Giovanni Sio had fired Rennes into a 2-0 lead.
JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images

Giovanni Sio had fired Rennes into a 2-0 lead.
Giovanni Sio had fired Rennes into a 2-0 lead.
JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images

Nice's Ligue 1 title hopes suffered another blow with more dropped points in a 2-2 draw at Rennes.

The early-season pacesetters have been passed by both Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks and have now won just three of their last nine league matches, despite a spirited comeback at the Roazhon Park on Sunday.

Without an away victory since the end of November, Nice made a terrible start as they fell behind to a Morgan Amalfitano goal after seven minutes.

It got worse for the visitors when Giovanni Sio doubled Rennes' lead with 21 minutes on the clock.

Anastasios Donis reduced the deficit as the hour-mark approached and Valentin Eysseric pulled Nice level with an equalising goal with nine minutes remaining.

Nice were unable to find a winner, though, and slipped five points behind leaders Monaco, while a fifth straight league draw did Rennes' hopes of European football next season little good.