Rennes sinks OM (2-0) and still dreams of the Champions League

In a feverish Roazhon Park, Stade Rennais carried out an excellent operation. The Bretons had a very pale OM on Saturday in the shock of the 37th and penultimate round of Ligue 1 (2-0). Propelled by the achievements of Benjamin Bourigeaud (12th) and Lovro Majer (35th), the Rouge-et-Noir extinguished sterile Marseillais (no shot on target).

The Bretons (4th, 65 points) gain a place in the standings and come back three short lengths from Monaco, the new runner-up to PSG. Unrecognizable, the Olympians (3rd, 68 points) no longer have their destiny in their hands, and can fear the worst on the final day, when they will host Strasbourg.

Rennes rejoices, OM stalls

The dynamics are worth what they are worth, the context of the day often has the last word. Under the fire of critics after an insufficient performance against Nantes (2-1 defeat at La Beaujoire), Bruno Génésio’s players rectified the situation brilliantly, well helped by a public of great evenings. Conversely, dominating in Lorient, OM, the best away team at kick-off, seemed anesthetized by the desire of the locals.

Caught from the outset by the local fury, the Olympians folded for the first time on a school movement piloted by Martin Terrier and concluded by Benjamin Bourigeaud (12th). A first slap which did not wake up visitors who were strangely spectators on the meadow of the Rennes setting.

Only a few snippets darkened the record of the Olympians in the first period: the voluntarism of Cengiz Ünder and a poorly paid projection from Mattéo Guendouzi (26th). Too little to worry about the Red-and-Black transfigured by the songs of the Breton stands. A few minutes after a new thrill signed Bourigeaud, very close to taking advantage of a missed discount from Luan Peres (32nd), Lovro Majer took on the task of weighing down the brand, perfectly served by Terrier, chief distiller this Saturday (35th) . The former Lyonnais even almost scored a goal, but his attempt found an opposing body (45th).

Without nine and without Payet, Marseille does not fit and can fear the worst

The break didn’t change anything, and the ailments that OM have been dragging on for a few weeks have resurfaced at the worst of times. Without Dimitri Payet and a professional nine at the forefront of the attack (Cédric Bakambu was absent through injury and Arkadiusz Milik was making his return to the group), the Marseille club had all the trouble in the world to create chances in the last third. Aligned on the front of the attack, Amine Harit seemed lost and disconnected from his partners. It took the energetic entry of Bamba Dieng to feed Marseille’s attacking circuits.

But Alfred Gomis, who recently became a starter again after being sidelined for a broken finger, has lost none of his ability to anticipate. The Senegalese porter precisely intervened in front of his compatriot, then launched in depth by Guendouzi (68th). A minute later, Gomis only had to accompany Dieng’s attempt near his right post (69th). Not so in demand despite the plethora of Breton situations, Steve Mandanda made a high-class save in front of Majer (72nd). A stop that ultimately did not carry an Olympian spirit. Without ideas, the proteges of Jorge Sampaoli, once again tense in front of his bench, no longer have the keys in hand in the race for the C1, overtaken by Monaco, scorer of Brest (4-2).

Marseille (3rd, 68 points) will have to react at the Vélodrome on the final day, with the reception of Strasbourg. For its part, Rennes (4th, 65 points) retains all its chances of a podium but will be obliged to return from Lille with a victory. When we measure the impact of the climate and the environment on the training of Bruno Génésio, the case is far from certain.