Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Marseillevs.Rennes

sportsmole.co.uk, 18 January 2023, 05:59
Rennes can advance to the last 16 at the Coupe de France for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign when they travel to the Stade Velodrome for a Round of 32 clash on Friday with Marseille.

Stade Rennais edged past Bordeaux 2-1 earlier this month, while OM netted twice in the second half to blank Hyeres 2-0.

Match preview

For the moment, it looks as though Igor Tudor has silenced his critics with les Olympiens currently on a seven-match winning run in all competitions since exiting from the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Lately the Stade Velodrome has proven to be a challenging venue for opposing teams to play in, with Marseille winning their previous three domestic matches played there by a combined score of 11-2.

Marseille have a 100% record at home this year and are undefeated at the Velodrome in this competition since falling 4-3 in extra-time versus Monaco in 2016-17.

Not only are they finding the back of the net with more regularity, but they have received contributions at virtually every position.

Their most notable contribution has come from the backline, with defenders or wing-backs scoring 14 Ligue 1 goals for them this season, twice as many as any team in the French top flight.

Last Saturday was the first time all year that they had conceded the opening goal in any competitive fixture, though they trailed Lorient for a mere nine minutes before drawing level and eventually winning 3-1.

They made it into the last eight at the Coupe de France a season ago and have never lost to Rennes in this competition, defeating them 3-0 in the 2005-06 semi-finals.

For a few seasons now, the club from Brittany have been among the most consistent sides in the French top flight, though this competition has given them fits lately, going out on penalties to Nancy from Ligue 2 last season.

Les Rouges et Noir are coming off an impressive showing domestically last weekend, holding the league leaders Paris Saint-Germain to just a single shot on target and coming away with a 1-0 triumph.

In doing so they became the only team in Ligue 1 this season to defeat and keep les Parisiens off the scoresheet in the same domestic encounter.

Bruno Genesio's men have not been as potent in the final third away from home lately, scoring just a single goal in each of its previous three domestic encounters on the road.

Les Rennais have won just once in their last five matches in all competitions as the visitors, but are hanging onto the final European spot at the midway point of the domestic campaign.

Claiming a victory at the Stade Velodrome has proven to be exceedingly difficult for Rennes, who are winless in their previous five visits there, including a 1-1 draw in league play last September.

Not since their 2019-20 Coupe de France campaign have les Rouges et Noir won a road contest in this competition, squandering a 1-0 lead at this stage last season to Nancy and losing 2-1 at Angers in the third round in 2020-21.

Les Rennais have not lost a competitive fixture all season when scoring the opening goal, while they have only been shut out once throughout the campaign, falling 1-0 at home to Lorient in their opening Ligue 1 fixture of 2022-23.

Marseille Coupe de France form:

Marseille form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Rennes Coupe de France form:

Rennes form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

L

W

Team News

Alexis Sanchez and Bamba Dieng had the only Marseille goals when they defeated Hyeres in the previous round, Ruben Blanco stopped two shots for the clean sheet on that occasion, while Jordan Veretout has netted in back-to-back domestic fixtures.

In its previous battle with Rennes, Matteo Guendouzi gave les Rennais the lead with an own goal in the 25th minute, before levelling the match himself with a strike early in the second half in a 1-1 draw, while Cengiz Under and Amine Harit are searching for their first strikes of this competition after being two of the three players that found the back of the net when they made it to the quarter-finals last season.

Jonathan Clauss is not expected back until late January because of a groin injury, while Tudor made one change to his opening lineup against Lorient last weekend from the squad which began the previous match against Troyes as Ruslan Malinovskyi made his first start in Ligue 1, replacing Issa Kabore.

Meanwhile, Eric Bailly, currently on loan from Manchester United, will be suspended for this encounter after being red-carded in the 15th minute versus Hyeres.

Hamari Traore had the only goal for Rennes when they defeated PSG last Sunday, as Steve Mandanda, the former first-choice keeper at Marseille, had to make just one save for the clean sheet, while Benjamin Bourigeaud and Jeremy Doku each scored in their narrow victory over Bordeaux to advance to this stage of the tournament.

Bourigeaud and Lovro Majer each scored in a 2-0 victory at home to Marseille domestically last season, Warmed Omari is searching for his first of this competition, while Arnaud Kalimuendo had the only goal in their previous road fixture, which they lost 2-1 at Clermont.

Their top goalscorer in Ligue 1, Martin Terrier, is out for the season due to an ACL injury, while Xeka will not be available until late January because of a sprained ankle.

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Balerdi, Gigot, Gueye; Kabore, Guendouzi, Veretout, Kolasinac; Payet, Sanchez; Dieng

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Meling, Theate, Wooh, Traore; Tait, Ugochukwu, Bourigeaud Majer; Doku, Gouiri

We say: Marseille 2-1 Rennes

It should be a close encounter between a pair of sides near the top of the league table, but the loss of Terrier might tip the scales in favour of the home side, while we expect Rennes could have a let-down given the emotional high they experienced when defeating PSG last weekend.

Previews by email

Top News

23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have a psychological advantage in the title race and can truly stake their claim as favourites by capitalising on their rivals' weaknesses over the coming weeks in the Premier League, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga Barcelona were stunned on Saturday evening as Celta Vigo scored twice in the final exchanges of their contest to secure a point in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides hoping to emerge from a rut will go head-to-head in the Turkish Super Lig when Trabzonspor host Adana Demirspor at Papara Park. 23 November 2024 talksport.com With the November international break in the rear-view mirror, the Premier League returned with a bang. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have set an unwanted losing record after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday evening. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Chelsea may forcing themselves into the title race, but Troy Deeney believes a glaring issue 'is going to cost them' down the track. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A former Aston Villa captain is set to become an MLS manager this week. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have lost their fifth consecutive game in all competitions after suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham wasn't what Pep Guardiola had in mind when it came to celebrating his new Manchester City contract. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Senior figures at Manchester United have allegedly concluded that Joshua Zirkzee 'is not good enough', with the club having 'serious doubts' when it comes to the Netherlands international. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola has made unwanted history after Manchester City fell two goals behind after 20 minutes in their 4-0 defeat to Tottenham. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has hinted that Marcus Rashford will have an important role to play under him, with the Portuguese insisting that the attacker can play in all three positions in the final third of the field. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City's clash with Tottenham kicked off late after Rodri's Ballon d'Or presentation. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho has reportedly made contact with legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo to discuss a possible move for the Al-Nassr star next year. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A frustrated Leicester City boss Steve Cooper confirmed he will write to the PGMOL after his side's 2-1 loss to Chelsea. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it successive victories in La Liga when they continue their 2024-25 campaign with a clash against newly-promoted Leganes on Sunday night. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Ethan Nwaneri became Arsenal's second youngest goalscorer in the Premier League in a dominant 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Pedro was the star of the show as ten-man Brighton & Hove Albion recorded a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in Saturday's Premier League contest at the Vitality Stadium. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace in Saturday afternoon's pulsating Premier League contest at Villa Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal snapped their four-game Premier League winless streak in Mikel Arteta's 250th match in charge of the club as they earned a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford picked up their first Premier League away point of the season at the sixth attempt as the 10-man Bees held a wasteful Everton to a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has explained how he wants Enzo Fernandez to adapt his game to fit seamlessly into his preferred system. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a total of three changes to his starting lineup for this evening's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Portsmouth's trip to Blackburn was postponed less than four hours before kick-off on Saturday. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off after grabbing the throat of Coventry City forward Norman Bassette. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Ajax defender Devyne Rensch next summer, with the Netherlands international potentially being available on a free transfer. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has reportedly agreed to sign a new long-term deal when he turns 18 next year. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that the club will not make any firm plans when it comes to the January transfer window until after their clash with Sevilla on December 22. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Fernandez marked his return to the starting XI with a goal and an assist as Chelsea ran out deserved 2-1 winners over Leicester City in Saturday lunchtime's Premier League kickoff at the King Power Stadium. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Mikel Arteta left Arsenal fans confused with a much-changed starting XI to face Nottingham Forest.