The long-awaited Ligue 1 opening night did not disappoint, as Olympique de Marseille and Stade Rennais served fans a thriller filled with intensity, red cards, and late drama.
From the start, both sides pressed high with energy, but it was Rennes who carved out the bigger chances, capitalizing on Marseille’s risky passing from the back. Omo, tension full everywhere!
The match turned fiery when Rennes defender Abdelhamid Aït-Boudlal was shown a red card for a reckless tackle on Michael Amir Murillo. Playing with ten men before half-time, it seemed like Rennes were doomed. But football no dey follow script.
Big Names, Missed Chances
Just before the break, Adrien Rabiot nearly stole the spotlight with a fierce long-range effort. On Marseille’s bench, Roberto De Zerbi rolled out the big names: Timothy Weah made his Ligue 1 return at half-time, whipping in a cross for Murillo, whose header smacked against the post.
Later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang entered the fray, also marking a return to French football. But despite Marseille’s dominance and waves of attacks, Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba stood firm, denying chances and frustrating the hosts.
Omo, Marseille fans were already smelling three points — but na setup!
The Killer Blow
With Rennes defending deep in a low block, it looked like Marseille’s high press would eventually break them down. Instead, it backfired.
Former Marseille man Quentin Merlin picked the perfect moment to thread a pass through to Ludovic Blas. Seconds after coming on as a substitute, Blas calmly slotted home the decisive goal. The stadium erupted as Rennes pulled off the unthinkable — stealing all three points with just 10 men.
Omo this one painful for OM — opening day, home crowd, one-man advantage, yet still lose? Na premium tears.
Stade Rennais Player Ratings
- Jeremy Jacquet – 6: The 20-year-old lived up to his hype, showing composure and smart positioning.
- Quentin Merlin – 6: Solid defensively and delivered the assist against his former club.
- Moussa Al-Tamari – 6: A constant threat with his direct running.
- Brice Samba – 5: Made key saves when called upon.
- Abdelhamid Aït-Boudlal – 4: Red card overshadowed his evening.
Marseille Player Ratings
- CJ Egan-Riley – 6: Impressive Ligue 1 debut, composed under pressure.
- Geronimo Rulli – 6: Solid saves, though beaten at the end.
- Angel Gomes – 5: Showed tidy link-up play but lacked a decisive pass.
- Jonathan Rowe – 4: Energetic but wasteful in front of goal.
- Mason Greenwood – 3: Frustrating night, too predictable with little end product.
