Rennes climbed to fifth in Ligue 1 with a 3-1 win over Nice at Route de Lorient tonight.
The hosts, who still have hopes of qualifying for the Champions League this season, took a 24th-minute lead courtesy of Julien Feret.
Sought-after midfielder Yann M'Vila started for Rennes and he helped provide Tongo Hamed Doumbia add a second on the stroke of half time.
Relegation-threatened Nice threatened a comeback when former Lyon full-back Francois Clerc made it 2-1 on the hour mark
However, the points were secured when Burkina Faso striker Jonathan Pitroipa restored Rennes's two-goal advantage with seven minutes remaining.
With the result, Rennes move to within two points of Lyon in fourth while Nice remain 14th in the table, but they sit only one point clear of AC Ajaccio in 19th.
Joe Fish
