Rennes vs Marseille Prediction 17.03.2024

• Competition: France - Ligue 1
• Date: Sunday, 17th, March 2024
• Kickoff: 16:05 UTC / 17.05 CET
• Venue: Roazhon Park (Rennes)

An intense atmosphere awaits at Roazhon Park as Rennes and Marseille square off in what promises to be a captivating Ligue 1 matchup between two ambitious clubs.

Rennes vs Marseille Betting Tips: BTTS

The remarkable league six-game winning streak they built between December 20th and February 18th has faded over the past weeks, as Rennes have put in some below-par performances, as seen in last week's disappointing 2-2 draw away to LOSC Lille, where they relinquished a two-goal lead in the dying moments.

As a result of the gut-wrenching late brace conceded to Les Dogues' talisman Jonathan David, the crisis-ridden Les Rouge et Noirs have endured a third straight Ligue 1 fixture without the joy of victory (D2, L1), which has somewhat marred their continental aspirations, leaving them six points adrift of last weekend's rivals LOSC Lille, who sit in fourth.

What offers hope to Julien Stephan and his troops, in terms of their European dreams, is the fact that they earned a last-four spot in the Coupe de France thanks to a 3-1 demolition of fourth-tier outfit Le Puy-en-Velay on February 29, which opens the possibility for them to reach European exit via that route, but first, they'll have to overcome the wicked PSG in the semi-finals.

Otherwise, Rennes has been a force to reckon with at their own fortress in recent games, as their last six gome fixtures across all competitions have yielded five successes for them, while they can also boast of their prowess and efficiency in front of goal, hitting the back of the net at least twice in four of those contests.

Interestingly, one of those mentioned home-winning results came against Marseille, whom the Brittany outfit knocked out of the Coupe de France via a penalty shootout, but there's no doubt that the men in the red and blue jerseys will face a completely different and stronger Les Olympiens this time around compared to the one in January 21.

Since taking the reins as the new manager following the dismissal of Genaro Gattuso, the seasoned Jean-Louis Gasset has turned things around for Marseille by 180 degrees, restoring the winning mentality characteristic of a club of such renown, guiding them to a perfect nine points in the initial three Ligue 1 matches of his tenure.

Despite enjoying a start unmatched by any other coach at the Velodrome in the past six decades, the 70-year-old tactician tasted the first bitter pill of failure midweek since his appointment, overseeing his troops as they fell to a 1-3 defeat against Villarreal in Spain, yet, despite this setback, Gasset has steered Marseille into the Europa League last-eight for the first time since 2010, courtesy of a 4-3 aggregate triumph. 

Under Gasset's baton, Les Olympies have also sharpened their edge in the final third of the pitch, scoring goals for fun and racking up an imposing 19 goals in his six-game spell in charge, so they are expected to adopt yet another free-scoring approach in hopes of keeping a 100% Ligue 1 record with the new manager.

Recognizing the vast attacking prowess of both Rennes and Marseille, we anticipate a thrilling, goal-laden affair in which we should witness strikes at both ends of the pitch, as victory is crucial for both sides.