Preview: Marseille vs. Rennes - prediction, team news, lineups

While the hosts are sitting joint top of the table, the visitors are four places and eight points further back in sixth.

Match preview

Marseille have enjoyed their best ever start to a Ligue 1 season, as they have picked up 19 points after winning six and drawing one of their opening seven games.

However, Igor Tudor's men have struggled to replicate their impressive form in the Champions League as they have lost their first two Group D matches, including Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Les Olympiens return to Ligue 1 action this weekend and they will look to bounce back with a victory over Rennes, which could see them head into the international break as the outright league leaders if Paris Saint-Germain were to drop points away against Lyon.

Not since the days under Didier Deschamps back in 2009-10 have Marseille won the Ligue 1 title, but this could be the season where they push PSG if they can build on their strong start.

Marseille have won eight of their last nine top-flight home matches, as well as both of their last two without conceding against Rennes, so Tudor and co will be in high spirits when they take to the pitch on Sunday.

After making a slow start to the new season, Rennes are now starting to find their feet and have put together a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Last weekend's convincing 5-0 home victory against Auxerre in Ligue 1 was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday, with Enner Valencia scoring a 92nd-minute equaliser for the Turkish side less than 10 minutes after Hamari Traore was sent off for the hosts.

Bruno Genesio was frustrated not to come away with maximum points but he was able to take plenty of positives away from their performance and is hoping that his side can build on all fronts in the coming weeks.

While Rennes have picked up nine points from four Ligue 1 home games so far this term, they have only accumulated two points from three matches on the road. Including results at the backend of last season, Les Rouge et Noir have won only one of their last eight away league matches.

Positive results on the road have been hard to come by but they have certainly had no problems finding the net, as they have scored in 17 of their last 19 league games away from home, a run dating back to September last year.

Rennes have failed to win any of their last four visits to Marseille but they did come out on top in their most recent meeting on home soil, securing a 2-0 victory in May courtesy of strikes from Benjamin Bourigeaud and Lovro Majer.

Marseille Ligue 1 form:

Marseille form (all competitions):

Rennes Ligue 1 form:

Rennes form (all competitions):

Team News

Marseille boss Tudor suggested that fatigue was a reason for his side's defeat to Frankfurt in midweek, so the Croatian may decide to freshen up his team on Sunday.

Manchester United loanee Eric Bailly is set for a few weeks on the sidelines after coming off on Thursday with a thigh injury. Samuel Gigot could replace him at centre-back although he is doubtful after missing out entirely against Frankfurt.

Issa Kabore, Matteo Guendouzi, Cengiz Under and Luis Suarez - who all started on the substitutes' bench in midweek - may return to the first XI on Sunday at the expense of Jonathan Clauss, Jordan Veretout, Gerson and Dimitri Payet respectively.

As for Rennes, Baptiste Santamaria (ankle), Arnaud Kalimuendo (muscle) and Warmed Omari (groin) are all ruled out with injuries.

Veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who spent 15 years across two spell with Marseille and holds the record for the most appearances (613) in the club's history, is set to start against his former club between the sticks.

Hamari Traore is available for selection despite his midweek dismissal in the Europa League and he could make his 200th Ligue 1 appearances at right-back, while the likes of Bourigeaud, Martin Terrier and Amine Gouiri are all set to retain their places in the first XI.

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Balerdi, Gigot, Mbemba; Kabore, Rongier, Guendouzi, Tavares; Under, Sanchez; Suarez

Rennes possible starting lineup:

Mandanda; Traore, Rodon, Theate, Meling; Bourigeaud, Majer, Ugochukwu, Sulemana; Terrier, Gouiri

We say: Marseille 2-1 Rennes

Both sides will be looking to bounce back with a win on Sunday and head into the international break on a high after failing to claim maximum points in Europe.

Marseille will be regarded as the favourites given their start to the season, and although they were unable to score in midweek, we can see them having more joy in front of goal this weekend.

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