Marseille vs Rennes Prediction & Betting Tips (3 February)

Marseille is coming out of a catastrophic week, which began on Wednesday with a heavy defeat in Bruges 3-0, leading to its elimination from the Champions League at the end of the league phase. The Olympians seemed able to make up for it three days later, in the Championship. They led by 2 goals until ten minutes before the final whistle on the Paris FC pitch but conceded the equalizer in added time 2-2. A very bad operation in the race for 2nd place for Roberto De Zerbi and his players, expected at the turning point in the Coupe de France. OM are one of the big favorites for the title after the elimination of PSG.

 Also at a standstill, Stade Rennais has not won since its 16th final of the Coupe de France against Chantilly N2; 1-3, three weeks ago. The Rouge et Noir returned to Ligue 1 with a disappointing draw at home against Le Havre 1-1, were defeated in the Breton derby by Lorient 0-2 and lost heavily on Saturday at Monaco 4-0. The resurgence in training displayed in the fall is definitely no longer relevant for this Rennes team which, however, remains in the midst of qualifying for the European Cup. 

OM was very active in the transfer window by completing the arrivals of Nwaneri (loan from Arsenal, 1 goal in L1) in attack and Quinten Timber (ex Feyenoord), Abdelli (ex Angers) and Nnadi (ex Zulte Waregem) in midfield. The last two having arrived on Monday, they are not qualified. At the same time, the club parted ways with replacements Vaz, Bakola and O'Riley as well as undesirables Blanco, Lirola, Maupay, Gomes and Garcia. The full-back Emerson (holder) is applying for a return to the group while the captain Aguerd (central defender) and Paixão (9 goals, 1 in CdF) are uncertain. Replacement goalkeeper De Lange will be returned to the Coupe de France in place of Rulli, whose latest performances have been heavily criticized. Greenwood scored a hat-trick in the last round, former Rennais Gouiri a double.

 For Rennes, captain Rongier (starting midfielder) is uncertain against his former club. Another starter should be missing, central defender Jacquet who had his medical examination in Liverpool on Monday but will remain in Rennes until the end of the season. Recruited on the gong, the attackers Nordin (loan from Mainz) and Zabiri (ex Famalicão) are not qualified. We should note the departure of downgraded midfielder Seko Fofana (loan to Porto) and promising striker Kader Meïté, new player from Al-Hihal, in Saudi Arabia. The flagship scorer Lepaul (8 TCC goals) has not scored in the last 6 matches.