The UEFA Europa League is one of the most prestigious football competitions in Europe, and it provides an opportunity for clubs from various countries to compete against each other in a competitive environment. The qualifying round for the Europa League is known as the "Small Gaps" stage, which means that only two teams will be able to advance to the final round.
In this article, we will look at the match between Ligue 1's Rennes, Nice, and Lyon, who are all part of the small gaps stage of the UEFA Europa League. The match was held on March 24th, 2023, and it was a thrilling affair with both teams putting up impressive performances.
Rennes, led by coach Christophe Galtier, had been looking to make a run at the Europa League since they were promoted from the Ligue 1 last season. They started well and took the lead in the first half through a goal scored by Antoine Griezmann. However, Nice responded with goals from Jérémy M'Vila and Yannick Bolasie, which gave them a 2-1 lead after 55 minutes.
Lyon, on the other hand, came back with goals from Mathieu Vidal and Adil Rami, which gave them a 3-2 lead after 70 minutes. However, Rennes fought back with goals from Thomas Meunier and Mathieu Duvigneu, which put them up 4-3 heading into the second half.
In the second half, both sides played out a draw, but Rennes had the better chances. They were able to score three goals in the second period, including a penalty kick from Antoine Griezmann. Nice also had opportunities to score, but couldn't convert them.
In the final whistle, the match ended in a draw, and both teams earned valuable points. Rennes will now face Nice in the semi-finals while Lyon will have to face the winner of the other match. Both teams have the potential to win the Europa League, so it remains to be seen which team will emerge victorious.