PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 3-0 Rennes: De Zerbi’s men hold their nerve to qualify for Coupe de France quarter-finals | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi’s men got back to winning ways to progress to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France thanks to two goals early in each half from Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang killed off the tie in the last ten minutes. If the week had been marked by chaos and tension in the South of France, Les Olympiens would hold their nerve to progress in a cup competition that they are desperate to win.

THE MATCH 

The Velodrome atmosphere was tense pre-match, and several banners from OM’s disgruntled ultras more than suggested that this was a season-defining moment. “We want the Coupe de France” followed by “Lack of stability, ambition, and balls… you are all responsible… Shame on you!”.But the nerves would be put at ease early on, as Timothy Weah nicked the ball off former OM man Quentin Merlin who failed to clear his lines – before Amine Gouiri would finish into the back of the net to the roar of a tense Vélofrome (1′). High-intensity, slightly panicked, but effective; Marseille looked like a team on a mission in the opening periods. 

Rennes were the victim of their own mistakes, but knew that they could grow into the game as the first period wore on. OM starved Les Rennais of possession, but De Lange would be on hand to save well from a couple half-chances, before Gouiri had a snapshot at goal after winning the ball once again in the Rouge et Noir box.Les Olympiens pressed high onto Habib Beye’s side, much in the image of their first outing at Roahzon Park earlier in the season. But at times, De Zerbi’s men looked almost too keen. Ethan Nwaneri would certainly have been at risk of a red card if VAR had been functioning after a high-studded tackle, but he was instead shown a yellow for his troubles.Rennes had their best chance of the game just before the break, as De Lange flapped at a cross from the left side but Moussa Al-Tamari headed straight at the Dutch keeper. At half-time, Roberto De Zerbi brought on Bilal Nadir for Ethan Nwaneri after his yellow card. Meanwhile for Rennes Habib Beye would bring on Breel Embolo, taking off Esteban Lepaul. 

In a mirror image of the first half, OM would strike as quick as lightning. Quinten Timber won the ball in midfield and Rennes weren’t set – a simple ball through from Gouiri released Greenwood who finished one-on-one with Brice Samba (45′). From then it was a case of OM protecting their lead, rather than letting the opponent easily make a comeback late on. With that in mind, Roberto De Zerbi brought on Geoffrey Kondogbia.Yet Marseille had passed up the opportunity to kill off the tie as Greenwood burst into the box and dribbled past two Rennes defenders before putting the ball on a plate for Gouiri. The Algerian inexplicably blasted his strike over the bar before being instantly substituted by De Zerbi to a fair few whistles from the home crowd.If the nerves were starting to kick in again, another break from Mason Greenwood saw the Englishman put the ball on a plate for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to kill off the tie (82′). A sigh of relief, but Marseille fans wouldn’t be convinced until the final whistle was blown. 

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE PLAYER RATINGS 

Jeffrey De Lange – 5

Facundo Medina – 6

Despite his intensity off the ball and workrate, he seemed to panic in the early stages with the ball, and gave it away on several occasions. Yet he put in a warrior-like performance which came just at the right moment for OM, the Argentine is starting to cement his spot in that backline.

Leonardo Balerdi – 5

Emerson Palmieri – 6

The Italian’s return to the starting XI was a welcome one, providing some much-needed solidity to a backline that has leaked goals at the wrong moments this season. On the attacking front he also found himself in several interesting positions.

Timothy Weah – 7

He’s been one of the figures of this Marseille side that has come out with credit during last-week’s mini-crisis. He showed the workrate and leadership (which we wouldn’t normally associate with Weah) and enough the tenacity to make the tackle on Quentin Merlin in the opposition box and provide the assist for Amine Gouiri. 

Quinten Timber – 6

The Dutchman is quickly settling into that midfield spot alongside Højbjerg and he was key in driving Marseille’s midfield combativity. He won the ball in the second half and reacted quickly to put Gouiri into space for Greenwood’s goal to double Marseille’s lead.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 5

Ethan Nwaneri – 5

Mason Greenwood – 7The Englishman continues his goal-scoring run after his penalty at the weekend. Tonight he was more incisive offensively and worked hard to track back when Marseille were out of possession. His finish was measured and came at a vital juncture for Les Olympiens. He played the ball to Gouiri (who should have killed off the tie) before providing the eventual assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s finish to get the job done for OM. 

Amine Gouiri – 5

The former Stade Rennais man got off the mark quickly with an assured finish in the first minute after some great work from Timothy Weah. He had another snapshot after winning the ball himself just minutes later, but contributed well off the ball in his pressing. 

Igor Paixao – 5

STADE RENNAIS PLAYER RATINGS 

Brice Samba – 5

Quentin Merlin – 4

The former Marseille man was at fault for Gouiri’s opener which kicked off the evening in the most difficult manner possible for Habib Beye’s side.

Alidu Seidu – 5

Anthony Rouault – 5

Jérémy Jacquet – 5

Now he’s been bought by Liverpool, the €50m price-tag is already hanging over each performance with supporters of the Reds watching. His advanced positions on the ball were interesting, but he looked exposed defensively in the second half especially with Greenwood’s pace on the counter-attack.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal – 4

Glen Kamara – N/A

Mahdi Camara – 5

Moussa Al-Tamari – 5

Sebastien Szymanski – 4

Esteban Lepaul – 4

GFFN | George Boxall – Reporting from the Stade Vélodrome, Marseille