Butts : Kalimuendo (43e) for the SRFC // Greenwood (45e) and Rabiot (49e) for OM
After seeing Monaco, Lille and Lyon leave feathers at the start of the weekend, OM knew what remained to do this Saturday evening in Rennes. And the Marseillais did it, confirming their irresistible form away from the Vélodrome, by winning like big players against very small Bretons (1-2) to consolidate their place as runner-up and temporarily return to four points behind Paris Saint- Germain, championship leader. At each match, the uninitiated are surprised and come to ask the regulars almost the same thing: but has Stade Rennes really become that? Yes, it has become that, at least for the moment, and the first half hour did not really warm the hearts of the faithful at Roazhon Park, deprived of the lower part of the Mordelles stand – that of the ultras – after a sanction made in LFP.
This Saturday, OM confiscated the ball, or the Bretons had no other choice but to leave it to them. A fairly sterile Marseille possession, the Phocaeans not abusing the races and movements to overcome the Rennes density in the axis. Hans Hateboer controlled Neal Maupay in the area, Christopher Wooh went to tickle Adrien Rabiot while managing not to collect a rusk and Leo Østigård offered an opening ball to Mason Greenwood, but was able to thank his friend Wooh for letting go a well-timed tackle (15e).
Rulli puts on his cape again
Barely arrived, already established, Brice Samba was able to test himself in his new garden by repelling a too axial attempt from Rabiot (21e), then the alarm finally rang for the Bretillians. After making a huge save in front of Arnaud Kalimuendo, Gerónimo Rulli thought it was a joke when he saw the referee running towards the VAR to signal a handball from Michael Murillo when the ball fell. A very severe penalty for the Marseillais, once again saved by their last rampart, who dove on the right side and kept the glove firm to disgust Kalimuendo a second time (32e). The Rennes striker did not give up to break the deadlock ten minutes later. Ludovic Blas got ahead of Derek Cornelius and served Lorenz Assignon, whose back cross took advantage of the same Kalimuendo, this time clinical to deceive Rulli (1-0, 43e). The ideal time to go ahead? Yes, but no, since OM said to themselves that it would be too stupid to return to the locker room with a delay on the scoreboard. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg therefore took out his magic wand and signed a wonderful pass in space to Murillo, who found Greenwood for an immediate equalizer (1-1, 45e). It was suddenly less cold, at least in the Marseille parking lot.
Rabiot thinking head, Rennes without soul
Time to fill up on sausage pancakes or galette des rois (we’re talking about the public, not the players), everyone returned to the pitch, with the exception of Kalimuendo, who had already requested a change after his goal and left his place to Seko Fofana, second baptized of the evening. And the Ivorian would undoubtedly have preferred something other than a Marseille goal from the start. Because OM immediately took the lead, Greenwood depositing a cross for Rabiot’s head, perfectly adjusted to fall into the cage of a helpless Samba (1-2, 49e). We sometimes get what we deserve in football, often even, and the Rennais did not seek to deserve anything other than a defeat, even after being behind.
They never pressed at the right time, they did not manage to rebel, except when they got confused with their opponents after a little tension between Leonardo Balerdi and Blas. Marseille only needed to manage, without rushing, and Samba maintained a semblance of hope with a double save in front of Luis Henrique and Murillo. Blas’ roll did not make Rulli tremble or really reignite the flame in the stands, where the Rennes faithful were relieved to see the referee reconsider in front of the VAR after having whistled a penalty in favor of OM, for a new story of a hand that didn’t deserve one (85e). Rennes still had to turn its back so as not to sink at the end of the game (Østigård and Samba saved the 1-3), as if to validate an implacable observation: tonight, it was a match between a serious contender for the podium and a team that can no longer think about anything other than maintaining itself.
Relive Rennes-OM (1-2)
