Deal nearly done: Marseille 3-1 Rennes keeps Habib Beye on course for Europa nights

Marseille delivered under pressure last night, a 3-1 win over Rennes that restores fifth place and keeps Habib Beye’s first full season on course for Europa League football. Pierre-Emile Højbjerg capped the dream start in the 2nd minute, Mason Greenwood supplying the assist, before Amine Gouiri doubled the lead in the 10th minute. From there it was about control: Marseille’s 4-2-3-1 outpunched Franck Haise’s 4-1-4-1, stretching the visiting midfield before Rennes could settle.

Højbjerg covered every angle. The captain was booked in the 49th minute for stopping a counter, yet minutes later he picked the right pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score in the 55th minute. One goal, one assist, four key passes, 55 completed passes before Quinten Timber replaced him in the 82nd minute. He ran the match.

Greenwood justified Beye’s call to keep him high on the right. The Englishman’s dribbling numbers backed up the eye test, six successful take-ons, four key passes, and the early assist that disrupted Rennes’ press. Gouiri mirrored the work rate on the opposite flank, scoring in the 10th minute and playing on despite a yellow card in the 76th minute that could have unnerved a less disciplined performance.

Rennes had the volume at the other end. Haise’s switches at half-time, Breel Embolo for Sebastian Szymański, and again in the 67th minute with Arnaud Nordin for Mousa Tamari, finally bent Marseille’s back line. Esteban Lepaul pulled one back in the 84th minute from Nordin’s layoff, but that was the lone reward from 27 efforts worth 2.56 expected goals. Gerónimo Rulli made four saves, Marseille blocked seven shots in all, and Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina accounted for five of them while Benjamin Pavard’s cameo ended with a 90+5 minute booking for dissent yet no collapse followed.

Beye trusted Tochukwu Nnadi as the second pivot until the 83rd minute, before giving Nouhoum Kamissoko late minutes to absorb pressure. Igor Paixão’s work without the ball justified his 72 minutes before Arthur Vermeeren offered fresh legs to close central lanes. It was basic game management yet executed cleanly.

For Rennes the frustration is obvious. Eleven corners, Mahdi Camara cautioned in the 79th minute as patience snapped, and still no way back into fifth place. Haise will point to missed opportunities, a reminder that efficiency at both ends still separates them from the elite tier.

Marseille stay on 59 points, ahead of Rennes on goal difference, and enter the final round with momentum restored after an inconsistent month. Beye can look ahead to a decisive finale with European qualification firmly in his team’s hands. Rennes need immediate clarity on finishing and mentality before the summer window opens, otherwise the Conference League route will feel like a ceiling rather than a platform.

Tactical snapshot

• Marseille shape: 4-2-3-1 under Habib Beye, Greenwood and Gouiri tucking inside to overload zone 14.
• Rennes shape: 4-1-4-1 under Franck Haise, Valentin Rongier anchoring yet isolated once Marseille’s wide players inverted early.
• Key switch: Højbjerg’s vertical runs forced Mahdi Camara and Sebastian Szymański to track deeper, freeing Greenwood to run at Quentin Merlin.
• Late resistance: Nordin’s injection of pace in the 67th minute finally stretched Emerson and Medina, creating the Lepaul goal, but Marseille’s substitutions protected the central block.

Key stats

• Shots on target: Marseille 11, Rennes 6
• Total shots: Marseille 27, Rennes 27
• Expected goals: Marseille 3.01, Rennes 2.56
• Possession: Marseille 45 percent, Rennes 55 percent
• Corners: Marseille 4, Rennes 11
• Saves: Gerónimo Rulli 4, Mathys Silistrie 8