The Matchday 34 clash in Ligue 1 between Marseille and Rennes will take place on May 17 at the Velodrome Stadium. Marseille vs. Rennes: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Marseille
Marseille defeated Le Havre 3-1 in the last round, securing a top-three finish in the championship and a Champions League spot for next season. To guarantee second place in the standings, the team needs to win the upcoming match, avoiding dependence on the result of Monaco's parallel game. The victory over Le Havre extended their unbeaten run in the elite French division to four matches (3 wins, 1 draw), with Marseille scoring at least three times in their victories. Overall, in terms of goals this Ligue 1 season, Marseille trails only PSG, having scored 70 times compared to PSG's 89.
- Both teams scored in 7 of Marseille's last 8 Ligue 1 matches.
- At least 3 goals were scored in 7 of the club's last 8 matches in this tournament.
- Marseille won 6 of their last 7 home Ligue 1 matches, scoring at least twice in victories.
Predicted lineup for Marseille (4-5-1)
Jerónimo Rulli – Amir Murillo, Leonardo Balerdi, Derek Cornelius, Ulisses Garcia – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Valentin Rongier, Mason Greenwood, Adrien Rabiot, Jonathan Rowe – Amine Gouiri.
Rennes
The Bretons continued their uncompromising run in Ligue 1, now reaching 25 matches (11 wins, 14 losses), by defeating Nice 2-0 in the previous tournament match. Rennes' goal-scoring streak in the French championship has grown to five matches. However, the club has long been out of contention for European spots, sitting in 11th place in the standings and unable to rise above 10th. They also won't drop below 12th. Notably, Rennes has secured the title of the most uncompromising team in this championship, drawing only twice. In the first round, the club lost to Marseille 1-2.
- The team won with a handicap (+1.5) in 7 of their last 8 matches in the elite French division.
- At least 3 goals were scored in 7 of Rennes' last 9 away Ligue 1 matches.
- Rennes scored in 8 of their last 9 away games in the championship.
Predicted lineup for Rennes (4-3-3)
Brice Samba – Adrien Truffert, Lilian Brassier, Anthony Rouault – Jaouen Hadjam, Ismael Kone, Azor Matusiwa – Ludovic Blas, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Moussa Al-Tamari.
Defender Christopher Wooh will miss the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Referee
Jérémy Pignard (France)
Matches – 17 (Ligue 1, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 73;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.3;
Red cards shown – 4;
Average fouls per match – 21;
Penalties – 18%.
Match Prediction: Marseille vs. Rennes
The hosts have achieved their minimum target for the season by finishing in the Champions League zone. However, Marseille is likely aiming to secure second place, playing at home in the final match of the season against an unmotivated opponent. The team has performed strongly in home Ligue 1 matches in 2025, winning 7 out of 9 games (1 draw, 1 loss). Rennes, on the other hand, already delighted their home fans in the last home match of the current championship by defeating Nice. However, the Bretons are highly inconsistent, as evidenced by their results in the current tournament, with 18 losses and 13 wins.
Rennes has played poorly away from home in this Ligue 1 season, ranking only 16th among the best away clubs, losing 11 of 16 matches. They also lost their last two away games in the tournament. Meanwhile, Marseille, as mentioned earlier, performs excellently at home. There is no doubt that the hosts will claim 3 points against an unmotivated and weak away opponent. I also believe both teams will score. Despite Marseille's excellent home performances, their defense is unreliable, with both teams scoring in 10 of their last 12 Ligue 1 home matches. Rennes has scored in 8 of their last 9 away games in the championship.
Therefore, my prediction is – Home win + Both teams to score – yes
