Marseille vs Rennes - Ligue 1

When Marseille and Rennes clash at the home ground on May 17, 2026, the stakes extend well beyond a single result — this is a Ligue 1 fixture that carries real weight for both clubs. O'Neill made five changes for Celtic's midweek win at St Johnstone as he rested some key players ahead of Sunday's clash.

Both camps will view the Ligue 1 meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts have done enough without setting the world alight, LLLLW over their last five and a 47.37% win rate to their name. Rennes have struggled to string results together away from home, LWLLL over their last five with a win rate of 39.47%. The contrast in attacking output — 1.63 versus 1 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Dusan Vlahovic followed up his hat-trick on Monday by completing the comeback to leave Fenerbahce four points behind Galatasaray, who snatched a late winner at Basaksehir on Friday.

The tactical subplot is compelling: Marseille favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while Rennes are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. They are sticking to the principles of possession and pressing that have taken them from the fourth tier.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Whoever wins the individual duel between the two sides' chief playmakers is likely to dictate the rhythm and, ultimately, the destination of the points. Wesley gets away from Bastoni and surges forward, shot charged down by Dimarco inside the area.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 2-2 draw is easy to envisage. With the standings tight and form on the line, this is a fixture neither side will want to lose. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.