Ligue 1
7:00 PMMay 17, 2026
Regular Season – 34
Orange Vélodrome
Referee: Ruddy Buquet, France
Marseille
Rennes
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3.01
Expected goals (xG)
2.53
-0.29
Goals Prevented
-0.29
Passing
327 (82%)
Accurate passes
396 (85%)
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50
G
Mathys Silistrie
26
D
Quentin Merlin
24
D
Anthony Rouault
48
D
Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal
18
D
Mahamadou Nagida
21
M
Valentin Rongier (C)
10
M
Ludovic Blas
M
Mahdi Camara
79′ Holding
17
M
Sebastian Szymański
11
M
Mousa Tamari
F
Esteban Lepaul
84′
Ligue 1 Standings – Ligue 1
Qualification/Relegation
- Champions League
- Champions League Qualification
- UEFA Europa League
- Conference League Qualification
- Relegation Playoffs
- Relegation
Marseille dominated Rennes with a commanding 3-1 victory at the Orange Vélodrome, with Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s early strike setting the tone for a clinical home performance.
Marseille came into this Ligue 1 clash sitting fifth in the table with 59 points from 34 matches. Rennes occupied sixth place, also on 59 points but with a superior goal difference. Both teams needed the win to push their European ambitions forward as the season entered its final stretch.
The home side made a statement within seconds of kickoff. Højbjerg fired Marseille ahead in the second minute with a composed finish. The Danish midfielder’s early goal set an aggressive tone that Rennes could not match.
Just eight minutes later, Marseille doubled their advantage. Amine Gouiri added the second goal in the 10th minute, and the visitors were already in serious trouble. Rennes had conceded twice in the opening stages and faced an uphill battle.
The away side created chances despite their poor start. Their possession statistics showed dominance with 55 percent of the ball, and they registered 10 corner kicks throughout the match. However, their 6 shots on target proved insufficient against Marseille’s organized defense.
Marseille controlled proceedings through the first half without needing to overextend themselves. Højbjerg received a yellow card in the 49th minute for a tactical foul, but the damage was already done. The hosts entered halftime with a commanding two-goal cushion and all the momentum.
The second half saw Marseille add a third goal to seal the result. Pierre-Aubameyang finished clinically in the 55th minute to extend the home team’s lead to 3-0. The French striker’s strike effectively ended any hope of a Rennes comeback.
Rennes pulled one back through Emerson Lepaul in the 84th minute, providing some consolation. The goal came too late to change the match’s outcome, however. Lepaul’s effort merely reduced the deficit in what had become a one-sided contest.
Gouiri received a yellow card in the 76th minute as Marseille managed the closing stages. Rennes’ Maxime Camara also saw yellow, while Benjamin Pavard earned a late booking for the hosts. The disciplinary record remained relatively clean despite the intensity.
The statistics reflected Marseille’s superiority. Marseille created an expected goals (xG) value of 3.01 compared to Rennes’ 2.53. The hosts managed 11 shots on target from 27 total attempts, while Rennes managed just 6 on target from 26 attempts.
Højbjerg emerged as the standout performer with a rating of 9.0. The midfielder scored once, provided an assist, and completed four key passes. Mason Greenwood also impressed for Marseille, earning a rating of 8.6 with an assist and four key passes.
This victory keeps Marseille in the hunt for European qualification. Both teams remain level on 59 points with Marseille holding the advantage on goal difference. The result demonstrates Marseille’s ability to perform under pressure in crucial matches.