Given that it is the first game of the season, both teams were understandably rusty in the early stages. The opening chance unsurprisingly fell to last campaign’s joint-top scorer Mason Greenwood, who blazed over from a promising position.
Then, the match dynamics changed when Rennes were reduced to 10 men just after the half-hour mark, as Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal committed a bad challenge on Michael Amir Murillo.
With the man advantage, Marseille dominated the remainder of the first half but could not find the breakthrough, with Adrien Rabiot coming closest by hitting the post in added time. Rennes’ best chance actually came after the red card, as Valentin Rongier tested Geronimo Rulli with a fierce strike.
Marseille hit the post for a second time before an hour on the clock, as the player that was fouled for Rennes’ red card, Murillo, struck the woodwork with a header.
The visitors continued to probe as Brice Samba pulled off a great save to deny Leonardo Balerdi, before stopping Murillo again with an albeit more comfortable stop. Then, in stoppage time, Rennes punished the wasteful Marseille with a brilliant strike from Ludovic Blas to clinch victory in dramatic fashion.
It was a phenomenal result for the hosts, considering they had 10 men against one of Paris Saint-Germain’s expected challengers for the title. Habib Beye will also be pleased with just a third clean sheet in 11 matches for his side in his first full season in charge, while Roberto De Zerbi will be thoroughly disappointed with his team’s efforts.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ludovic Blas (Rennes)