Rennes take on the visitors Marseille in the round 1 match of French Ligue 1. The match will be played on Friday, August 15th at Roazhon Park (Rennes).
Rennes can hardly be called a French football powerhouse, but in 2019 they lifted the Coupe de France – their first major trophy in nearly half a century. Between 2018 and 2023, they consistently featured on the European stage, even making their Champions League debut and reaching the knockout rounds. However, a downturn followed, and last season there was even serious talk about relegation. Thankfully, Beyi – a former defender – proved his worth as a coach and stabilised the situation. Rennes finished with 41 points and, thanks to tiebreakers, claimed 12th place. Still, the club from Brittany is ambitious and eager to reclaim lost ground. New signings such as Rongier and Frankowski underline that intent, although leaders like Truffert and Assignon have moved on. The squad looks more balanced now, but the question remains whether they can turn potential into consistent results.
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Marseille squeezed the maximum out of what was realistically possible last spring. The “Provençals” endured a disastrous campaign two years ago, missing out on European football entirely. That setback, however, led to the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi as head coach and a squad overhaul that brought in Greenwood, Højbjerg, Carboni, Rulli, Vahi, Rowe, Maupay, Rabiot and others. Not all signings flourished, but crucially, Marseille secured second place in Ligue 1 – behind only PSG. This summer’s recruitment saw the return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the Middle East, the capture of Feyenoord’s captain and top scorer Igor Paixão, the loan signing of Weah from Juventus, and the acquisition of Gomes from Lille. While last year’s transfer spree was arguably more spectacular, the challenge this time is to balance a domestic title push with the physical demands of a Champions League campaign. The team’s depth will be tested early, and their ability to integrate the newcomers quickly will be key.
Marseille have won five of the last seven meetings between the sides, including both of their most recent encounters, losing only once in that span. The visitors earned the title of Ligue 1 runners-up for a reason – they are the stronger side. Expect them to take all three points on the road in the opening round.
Prediction for the match: Marseille to win.
