Mason Greenwood scored again as Marseille beat Rennes 3-0 to reach the Coupe de France quarterfinals, setting up a key run of fixtures.
Marseille booked their place in the Coupe de France quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0 win over Rennes at Stade Velodrome. Roberto De Zerbi’s side struck almost immediately and never allowed the visitors to settle. The early goal lifted the home crowd and shifted the momentum decisively. Rennes struggled to recover from the opening blow and spent much of the night chasing the game. Marseille’s intent was clear from the first whistle.
The breakthrough arrived just after the opening minute following intense pressure high up the pitch. Timothy Weah robbed Quentin Merlin of possession and drove into space. His cutback found Amine Gouiri, who finished calmly from close range. The goal was among the quickest Marseille have scored in the competition in recent years. It rewarded an aggressive start built on energy and discipline.
Rennes attempted to respond with more control in midfield but lacked cutting edge in the final third. Brice Samba kept the scoreline respectable with a strong save to deny Gouiri a second. Tensions rose midway through the half after a late challenge by Ethan Nwaneri on Glen Kamara. Rennes players felt the Arsenal loanee was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card.
Kamara was unable to continue and limped off with an ankle problem. The incident disrupted Rennes further and slowed any rhythm they were building. Marseille remained composed and limited their opponents to speculative efforts. Jeffrey de Lange was rarely tested before the interval. The hosts went into the break firmly in control.
Any hopes of a Rennes comeback were extinguished almost immediately after halftime. A poor clearance from Samba handed possession straight back to Marseille. Gouiri spotted Mason Greenwood unmarked inside the area and picked him out with precision. Greenwood finished first time to score his 22nd goal of the season in all competitions.
The goal served as reminder Greenwood’s importance in De Zerbi’s system. His movement caused persistent problems for Rennes defenders. Marseille played with greater freedom after extending the lead. Rennes, by contrast, looked deflated and short of ideas.
Marseille controlled possession and waited patiently for openings as the clock ticked down. Rennes pushed bodies forward but left space in behind. That space proved costly seven minutes from time. A slick counterattack involving Pierre Emile Hojbjerg and Greenwood ended with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang applying the finish.
The third goal removed any lingering doubt about the outcome. It also marked another notable milestone for Aubameyang in Marseille colours. The final minutes were played out in front of a buoyant Velodrome crowd. Marseille closed the game without alarm.
The early goal shaped the contest and forced Rennes out of their plan. Gouiri’s goal and assist set the platform for victory. Greenwood’s composure in front of goal again stood out on a big occasion. Defensively, Marseille remained compact and disciplined throughout. It was a complete performance after a challenging recent spell.
Marseille now turn their attention back to Ligue 1 with a crucial clash against Paris Saint Germain looming. De Zerbi’s side sit third in the table, nine points behind the leaders. Progress in the cup offers confidence ahead of that test. The quarterfinal draw will be awaited with optimism at the Velodrome.
