17 September 2021, 15:25 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The French Ligue 1 fixture, Olympique Marseille vs. Stade Rennais FC, kicks off at 16:00 (GMT+1) on Sunday, September 19 at the 67,394-capacity venue, Stade Vélodrome.
Preview Olympique Marseille Ligue 1, Sep 19, 2021
Preview Marseille returns to French Ligue 1 action after Thursday's 1-1 draw in the Europa League match against Lokomotiv Moscow. On the fifth day of the league, Marseille defeated AS Monaco 2-0 at the Stade Louis II to remain unbeaten in the league: WDWW thanks to a man-of-the-match performance from Bamba Dieng. The 21-year-old Senegalese raced unchallenged after freeing himself from a Monaco shirt before picking a spot to beat the goalkeeper. Dieng had hit the wood work minutes before the goal. Minutes later, he was back in the thick of the action, using his strength to protect the ball before firing past a wall of five to seal all three points for OM. The win propelled Marseille to 3rd place, having picked up 10 points from 3W, 1D, & 0L, despite having a game in hand. The Disciplinary Commission of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) ruled that the abandoned game between OM and OGC Nice would be replayed behind closed doors following the controversial clash between players and fans. Following the ruling, a backroom staff in Jorge Sampaoli's team was banned for the rest of the season after he was caught on camera punching a Nice fan. Marseille have a goal ratio of 2.5 gpg, having scored 10 goals in four Ligue 1 games. They conceded 5 goals (1.25 g.c.p.g), and have a goal difference of +5. Jorge Sampaoli emerged with an unconventional 3—3—4 formation in the game against AS Monaco and could do so again against Rennes on Sunday. Dimitri Payet remains in doubt with a muscular injury while Arkadiusz Milik is ruled out with a blow to the knee.
Preview Rennes Ligue 1, Sep 19, 2021
Preview Rennes picked up a 2-2 draw in the Europa Conference League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday at the Roazhon Park. In the French Ligue 1, the club is in 11th place, having picked up 5 points from 1W, 2D, & 2L. On Matchday 5, the club picked up another defeat, 2-0 to Reims at Roazhon Park. They return to Ligue 1 action after Thursday's Europa League conference match against Tottenham, having a league form that reads: DDWLL. Rennes remain in the mid-table with 3 goals (0.6 gpg) after five Ligue 1 games, and manager Bruno Génésio must work on improving the numbers in front of goal to see his side advance on the rankings. Les Rouge et Noir have conceded 6 goals (1.2 gcpg) so far and have a goal difference of -3. Bruno Génésio could appear alongside Rennes with a 4—3—3 formation, with Serhou Guirassy in the middle. Jérémy Doku remains ruled out with a hamstring injury, while goalkeeper Dogan Alemdar has tested positive for coronavirus and remains in quarantine.