PLAYER RATINGS | Rennes 1-0 Marseille: Les Rouge et Noir go top of Ligue 1 as OM concede third straight loss | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 4, 11/09/26

Adrien Thomasson’s second-half goal is enough for Rennes to secure a third straight win to go top of Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Bruno Genesio’s Marseille woes deepened with a third consecutive loss.

The Match

Marseille returned to Rennes’ Roazhon Park for the first time since the infamous dressing room brawl between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe. So much has changed since for Les Phocéens, including the manager with Bruno Genesio making his return in Brittany after coaching Les Rouge et Noir between 2021 and 2023. Both teams were on opposite momentums. Rennes were targeting top spot whereas Marseille looked to avert a third straight Ligue 1 loss.

Still, Marseille put on a good show in the first half, playing with the handbrake off but without losing team structure. Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg pulled the strings from midfield, and Marseille’s wide men put Rennes on the backfoot. Up front, the hosts were toothless. The attackers looked like they played together for the first time, leaving Estéban Lepaul in no man’s land.

The best chances fell to Marseille. Brice Samba was alert to catch a goalward effort from Igor Paixão. The France international parried away a long-range Timothy Weah effort, and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg could only find Samba’s side-netting. Franck Haise shook things up in hooking Issa Soumaré for Musa Al-Tamari. The Jordan international instantly brought pace and energy to Rennes’ ailing attack.

The winger found himself at the receiving end of an inviting cross from Ludovic Blas. Al-Tamari outmuscled Timothy Weah to steer the ball towards the unmarked Adrien Thomasson, who volleyed in the opener. Minutes before, Angel Gomes spurned a glorious chance to hand OM the lead…

Al-Tamari and Thomasson combined again to almost devastating effet, but this time, the crossbar kept Thomasson’s attempt out. Marseille hit the woodwork too, courtesy of Anthony Rouault deflecting Paixão’s header.

Despite the introductions of fresh blood, ergo fringe players that weren’t even there last season like Neal Maupay or Faris Moumbagna, Marseille showed too little to worry Rennes. Les Bretons showed their craft in game management to secure a third straight win. Franck Haise’s Bretons have poached 10 points out of a possible 12.

Rennes player ratings

Brice Samba – 7

A very serious performance from France’s international goalkeeper. The former Nottingham Forest ditched out important saves in both halves to preserve Rennes’ first clean sheet of the Ligue 1 season.

Mahamadou Nagida – 5

Anthony Rouault – 5

Charlie Cresswell – 6

Przemyslaw Frankowski – 6

Adrien Thomasson – 7

The former Lens midfielder was partly to blame for Rennes’ stuttering attack in the first half, given how little influence he had. He made amends for it, and then some, by opening his Ligue 1 account for Rennes – his 50th goal in France’s first tier. His experience was vital in the closing stages to see off the win.

Valentin Rongier – 5

Mahdi Camara – 6

Issa Soumaré – 2

The former Le Havre centre-forward is definitely not a winger, and it showed again. He brought no pace, misplaced countless passes and lost most of his duels. No Rennes player lost more possession than him in the first half. A performance so woeful that it was cut short by Haise at half-time. His substitute Musa Al-Tamari (7) showed what a winger is all about with an all-energy display, capped by an assist.

Estéban Lepaul – 5

The Rennes centre-forward missed the opportunity to shine before Zinédine Zidane’s maiden squad announcement next Friday. Still, he didn’t shy of his defensive duties and showed glimpses of how much he improved in his hold-up play.

Ludovic Blas – 5

Selected Marseille player ratings

CJ Egan Riley – 4

The English centre-back badly struggled in recent weeks, but he retains Bruno Genesio’s faith, until when though? The way he let Thomasson roam free into his penalty box screams of a player devoid of confidence.

Angel Gomes – 4

The former Manchester United midfielder looks the shadow of the player he once was, even recently at Lille. He wasted a massive chance to give Marseille the lead, seconds before Thomasson’s opener. Unreliable.

Igor Paixão – 5

GFFN | Bastien Cheval