· 2 min readIn this Rennes vs Marseille match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
Rennes and Marseille came into this game with similar ambitions, but different starts to the season. Rennes had clearly done better, while Marseille, after starting well, lost their next two games and showed some defensive weaknesses.
Both teams needed this win. Ligue 1 looks more open than in recent seasons and both Rennes and Marseille want to prove that they can fight for the title. Because of that, this win could be very important.
Marseille started better and had more of the ball. In the 11th minute, Weah appeared well on the right, put in a low cross for Igor Paixão, who shot first-time, but Samba saved.
Rennes only managed to level the game around the half-hour mark. Even so, the main chances continued to belong to Marseille. In the 36th minute, Angel Gomes carried a counter-attack and found Højbjerg with space on the right. The Dane had everything in his favour to do better, but did not even hit the target.
Marseille’s movement down the right was working well, especially with Weah finding space a few times. Even so, they were missing the final step of turning that superiority into danger. At half-time, the game was practically even: 52% possession for Marseille and 0.39 expected goals, compared to 0.38 for Rennes.
The second half started with Marseille wasting chances. In the 51st minute, Harit shot and the ball fell to Angel Gomes inside the box. The midfielder had time to control, set himself and shoot, but did not even hit the target. It was a huge opportunity and, honestly, it is embarrassing to miss this.
And one minute later, Rennes punished them.
A cross to the far post ended with a header that sent the ball towards the six-yard box, in the direction of the other post. Thomasson appeared to try to tap it in, while Aguerd stood still and reacted far too late. Thomasson took advantage and made it 1-0. Rennes had had fewer opportunities, but were ahead. The Marseille centre-back looked very bad in that moment.
Marseille continued to have opportunities. Gouiri produced a good hold-up play inside the box and left Højbjerg facing the goal, but once again the finishing was poor. Marseille’s problem was precisely that: they reached good positions, but almost always failed with the final action.
In the second half, Rennes began to have much more possession and Marseille were not applying enough attacking pressure to win the ball back near the opposition box. In the 72nd minute, Thomasson almost scored again. He received a low cross from the left and struck it with absurd power, hitting the crossbar. If it had been on target, it would have been impossible to save.
Marseille tried to take more control of the game in the final minutes, but lacked the intensity to win the ball back and create danger. Gouiri came off in the 88th minute, in a game where he once again showed quality on the dribble and with the ball, but also the need to improve considerably with his final decision-making.
In stoppage time, Marseille still could not create any danger and suffered their third consecutive defeat.
Post-match
Rennes, without playing a great game, were more competent in the second half and finally took advantage of one of their opponent’s mistakes. An important win, especially because Marseille had enough opportunities to come away with a different result.
