Olympique Marseille finished off a tumultuous Ligue 1 campaign by dispatching Stade Resnais 3-1 at home in the Orange Velodrome. The victory was of huge importance in the Ligue 1 table, as this victory moved Marseille into 5th above Stade Rennais, and guaranteed the qualification of OM to the Europa League on the final day.
With Europe on the line, Marseille came out and dictated the match from the first kick of the ball. Within ten minutes, the hosts were already ahead 2-0 thanks to goals from Pierre-Emile Hojberg and Amine Gouiri. In the first minute, Hojberg received an inch perfect pass from Mason Greenwood to split the defense and found space to place a low driven shot between the defenders legs and past the keeper for the quick strike opener. Eight minutes later, Marseille struck again as Stade Rennais goalkeeper Mathys Silistrie lingered on the ball in his own box a second too long and Amine Gouiri pounced to block the keeper’s clearance into his own net for the second goal of the match. In the 54th minute, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang deftly chipped the keeper from close range to stretch the lead to 3-0 and from there Olympique Marseille did not relinquish control of the match.
Marseille firmly held control of this match through the stellar play of the OM midfield and the club’s captain Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg. The Dane provided a goal and an assist, and was a rock in the center of the park for OM. After a successful loan spell with the club last season, Hojbjerg has come in on a full time transfer this season and seamlessly transitioned into a leader in this football club, and is currently tied for second at the club in assists with 5 as a defensive midfielder.
Despite the dominance of Marseille, Stade Rennais were not without there own chances. Rennais hit the woodwork twice in the match, with one of these chances coming in the 32nd minute Stade Rennais’ Al Tamari, who forced a wonderful save out of Geronimo Rulli to push the ball onto the crossbar. The visitors especially pushed hard in the last fifteen minutes in the search to retain their fifth place standing and Europa League qualification. The chances were there for Les Rennais, but the club could only find a singular answer from the club’s main man this season Esteban Lepaul. The talismanic striker for Stade Rennais headed home the lone goal of the match for the visitors to up his goal tally to 21 goals on the season, good enough to see him take home the Ligue 1 golden boot trophy after the match.
The visitors were also hurt by two major absences in the squad for this match. Rennais were missing their highly rated young center back Jeremy Jacquet. The 20 year old Frenchman, who is already set to join Liverpool this summer on a 63.60 million Euro transfer, has been out of the squad since coming off with a shoulder injury in a February match against Lens. Along with Jacquet, first choice goalkeeper, and recent addition to the French World Cup squad, Brice Samba was absent from the squad through suspension. The keeper received a fifth yellow card in the previous match against Paris FC, triggering an automatic suspension for the final match of the season. Although the club appealed the decision, the match ban was not lifted and Rennais manager Franck Haise was forced to field 20 year old backup goaltender Mathys Silestrie, who was only making his second ever Ligue 1 appearance for the club. Although the young man grew into the match, his inexperience showed throughout the match. His mistake in distribution directly led to the second Marseille goal, as Silestire delayed his clearance off a goal kick for a second to long, allowing Marseille’s Amine Gouiri to block the clearance directly in Stade Rennais’ net to double the lead for the hosts.
Marseille will feel good ending the season on a high note, as this campaign has already seen the departure of former manager Roberto De Zerbi and now former Footballing Director Medhi Benatia. Benatia parted ways with the club a day before this match took place amidst plenty reports of tension between himself and the club president. OM will be in need of new leadership in the coming season but will have optimism with the current squad and European qualification guaranteed at the Orange Velodrome.
As this was the final match day of the Ligue 1 season, there will be no upcoming fixtures for either squad as players and fans prepare for a summer of World Cup action. Ligue 1 action in the 2026-27 campaign will resume in August.