Verdict: Marseille win & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 5/2
Bookmaker: Dachbet
With the 2025/26 Ligue 1 campaign getting underway this weekend, Marseille will travel to Roazhon Park on Friday night when they meet Rennes.
Rennes
Starting with the hosts, eventually forced to settle for a 12th-place finish among France’s elite last season, Rennes rightfully come under a huge amount of scrutiny. Drastically failing to find any kind of stability and spending large spells of the 2024/25 campaign looking over their shoulder at a potential relegation scrap, new boss Habib Beye could have a major job on his hands at Roazhon Park. Losing three of their final four Ligue 1 showdowns last season, the Brittany-based outfit also gained an unwanted reputation for their glaring issues at the back. Signing off last season with an action-packed 4-2 defeat away at Marseille, Rennes will certainly be bracing themselves for what is another stern examination when they open proceedings on Friday night.
Rennes Team News
Still dealing with respective long-term injury issues continuing on from last season, Rennes will get proceedings underway without the duo of Ayanda Sishuba and Ghana international Alidu Seidu this weekend.
Completing a permanent switch from Marseille this summer, Quentin Merlin will feature against his former club on Friday night and make his full Rennes debut. Likewise, arriving at Roazhon Park back in January, one-time Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba will start between the sticks.
Marseille
As for the visitors, eventually finishing the 2024/25 campaign 19 points adrift of PSG, Marseille are desperate to at least push the reigning European champions to the limit this time around. Storming their way to a lucrative Champions League return last season and rightfully receiving plenty of plaudits, Roberto De Zerbi’s side will be looking to lay down an early marker here. Mustering 13 points from their final five Ligue 1 appearances back in May, the former Brighton boss should find the mood in his camp at a red-hot high. Likewise, signing off their summer preparations with an eye-catching 3-1 victory against Premier League outfit Aston Villa, Marseille have also suffered just a single competitive defeat across any competition since the end of March.
Marseille Team News
Still dealing with a long-term ankle issue and not making a single appearance so far this calendar year, one-time Celta Vigo goalkeeper Ruben Blanco remains on the sidelines and will not travel to Brittany this weekend.
Completing a permanent switch from Dutch heavyweights Feyenoord this summer, Brazilian striker Igor Paixao will make his Ligue 1 debut on Friday night. Notching a brace against Rennes on the final weekend of the 2024/25 campaign, ex-Manchester United ace Mason Greenwood will play a leading role in the final third.
Rennes vs Marseille Key Factors to Consider
- When Marseille and Rennes signed off the 2024/25 campaign back on May 17th, Friday’s guests collected an action-packed 4-2 victory at the Stade Velodrome.
- Marseille registered 13 points from their final five Ligue 1 appearances last season.
- Rennes lost three of their final four Ligue 1 appearances prior to the summer break.
- Friday’s hosts have also registered just a sole clean sheet at Roazhon Park since the end of February.
- Along with notching a brace against Rennes on the final weekend of the 2024/25 campaign, former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood also notched 21 Ligue 1 goals last season.
Conclusion
Signing off last season by mustering 13 points from their final five Ligue 1 appearances, Marseille will simply be looking to carry on from where they left off prior to the summer interval. Drawing a line under their summer preparations with an impressive 3-1 win against Aston Villa, Friday’s guests should also be excited by a dominant record against Rennes. Landing an action-packed 4-2 victory when they welcomed the Brittany-based outfit to town back on May 17th, they have also suffered just a sole Ligue 1 defeat against Les Rennais since way back in May 2022.
Verdict: Marseille win & Both teams to score
Best Odds: 5/2
Bookmaker: Dachbet
