It could have been another great evening for Martin Terrier and, instead, a long struggle is likely ahead for the Rennes striker, 25, 8 goals this season.
Season which may have ended purely and simply on the 2nd day of the year, at the Route de Lorient stadium, before halfway through the championship.
Scorer in force, from close, with his left foot from the 6th minute, Terrier, overflowing with energy and enthusiasm, thought he had doubled the lead ten minutes later by extending into the Nice goal a shot from Bourigeaud deflected by Gouiri (16th).
Alas, the hope of a double was showered by a prior offside position from Gouiri. But the international striker was going to live an ordeal infinitely more painful and heavy with consequences than a simple goal disallowed.
At half an hour, while making a defensive comeback on Lotomba, Terrier suddenly twisted his right knee in contact with the Nice side.
Knee ligaments? Patellar lesion? It is too early to tell. Still, the Rennais immediately rolled on the ground, screaming in pain and holding his right knee with both hands. The Breton healers were unable to manipulate his leg a little, as the pain was so acute.
Terrier was evacuated on a stretcher, before his teammates regroup to recover from the shock and decide what to do after the loss of their striker.
“I have known Martin for a long time and when it comes to someone close, it hurts even more, confided Xeka, the Rennes midfielder at the Canal Plus microphone break. It’s hard to see. We don’t know what exactly he has yet. I hope it won’t be too serious. We’re going to fight 1000 percent for him…”
A time reduced to 10, the Rennes bench launched the young Belgian Jérémy Doku to replace Terrier.