Rennes vs Marseille Predictions: Tips and Best Bets Preview

Rennes vs Marseille is the high-profile tie in this round of the Coupe de France, and here are the predictions, tips and best bets preview from French expert Steve Wyss.

This Sunday night showdown in Brittany immediately catches the eye with both teams keen on challenging for another piece of silverware. Neither side will be happy with their Ligue 1 performance this term, so perhaps the cup can be a welcome distraction.

Rennes vs Marseille Prediction and Tips Preview

1. Rennes vs Marseille Tip 1: Rennes to win
2. Rennes vs Marseille Tip 2: Over 1.5 first half goals
3. Rennes vs Marseille Tip 3: Goal in both halves

In this article:

• Rennes vs Marseille Team News
• The Predicted Ligue 1 Table
• Rennes vs Marseille Stats Preview
• Safer Gambling

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Rennes vs Marseille Tip 1: Home side can continue their momentum after excellent win last week

France, Coupe de France, Sunday, 21st January, 20:05 (UK)

Rennes beat Nice 2-0 last week to get their 2024 Ligue 1 campaign off to a strong start. It has been a disappointing season overall for the Breton outfit, with them down as low as 10th in the table. They had a managerial change just before Christmas, which has seen Julien Stephan return to the club.

We know that in terms of squad quality and potential, this is a top six side, and they showed that facing Nice last week. Les Rouges et Noir dominated the game and clearly outshot and outgunned their high flying opponents 1.81 to 0.81 on xG.

I think Rennes can pick up where they left off in that fixture and claim a French cup success against Marseille. The visitors OM have not started the new year off in a very convincing fashion. They only just scraped past fifth division side Thionville 1-0 in the previous round and then drew disappointingly 1-1 vs Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last weekend.

Marseille are missing some players, which the team news section will cover later, but they just feel flat, under par and not sharp enough at this stage in January.

Rennes look a big price to take the victory inside 90 mins at juicy odds of 2.40.

• Rennes vs Marseille Tip 1: Rennes to win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.40
• Bookmaker: Betfair
• Stake: 9/10

Rennes vs Marseille Tip 2: French Cup fixture can lead to an open first half

Cup games can often be a welcome distraction for some teams and the overall feeling can be a less pressured situation. Neither of these sides have been doing as well as they would like in Ligue 1, but remain in European contention next month in their respective Europa League campaigns.

Both would like to have a French Cup run, but I think we can expect quite an attacking game plan from them here. Since Julien Stephan took over at Rennes, he has tried to get them to play on the front foot early, sometimes to great effect and sometimes to detriment. There’s been at least one first half goal in all but two of the last nine Rennes fixtures.

Taking the over 1.5 first half goal line at 2.88 could represent some definite value. The price dictates that this is more of a value swing rather than banker material, but I think both sides will come out hot. Marseille need a reaction following a couple of flat weeks, and the cup might allow them to free up their arms a bit.

In their most recent trip to Brittany before Christmas, they scored three first half goals away to Lorient. This will be a much tougher match of course, but the positive for Marsaeille is they are the underdogs here, which might give them more space and an opportunity to counter-attack. I just sense both sides will have quite a lot of energy at the start, so the first half goal line over 1.5 is worth a nibble at close to 2/1.

• Rennes vs Marseille Tip 2: Over 1.5 first half goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.88
• Bookmaker: Betfair
• Stake: 8/10

Rennes vs Marseille Tip 3: Goal threat significant in both periods

I mentioned with my first half goal pick that I fancy this game to get off to a fast and open start. Hopefully there’s two or more goals before the interval, but as a safer bet or a decent outright option on its own, betting on a goal in both halves looks like a good shout.

No team wants the prospect of penalties, so if this was a draw with 10-20 mins left, then we could expect attacking waves at either end. Equally, if one team is behind, then they will be forced to take more risks.

There has been a second half goal in 13 of the last 14 Rennes games, and they have the type of squad which can bring on decent bench options to get a goal if needed. The defence is not always reliable enough to keep things tight.

Marseille have scored at least one goal in 9 of their last 10 fixtures and pack enough punching power going forwards. It was concerning how vulnerable they looked against Strasbourg last week without Chancel Mbemba at the back, who is on AFCON duty. I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a goal in both halves here, considering the teams in action.

• Rennes vs Marseille Tip 3: Goal scored in both halves (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.73
• Bookmaker: Betfair
• Stake: 9/10

Rennes vs Marseille Prediction odds via Betfair as at 08:15, January 16th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

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Rennes vs Marseille Team News Preview: Marseille hit hard by international call-ups

Marseille are missing seven players to international duty, including key centre-back Chancel Mbemba. The likes of Amine Harit, Azzedine Ounahi and Ismaila Sarr are the other most notable absentees. Nemanja Matic is an injury doubt for Rennes, but they are far less affected by this international window, with only defender Christopher Wooh away on national team duty.

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The Predicted League 1 Table

POSITION	CLUB	GAMES	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Paris SG	34	22.6	7.3	4.1	78.8	31.6	47.2	75.0
2	Nice	34	18.6	9.2	6.1	45.1	24.9	20.1	65.2
3	Monaco	34	18.2	7.0	8.8	61.0	41.9	19.1	61.6
4	Marseille	34	15.9	10.1	8.0	52.8	34.7	18.1	57.8
5	Brest	34	16.2	8.2	9.5	49.6	35.9	13.7	56.9
6	Lille	34	14.9	11.2	7.9	46.6	33.1	13.6	55.8
7	Lens	34	14.3	9.0	10.7	48.0	40.1	7.8	52.0
8	Reims	34	14.9	6.3	12.8	45.5	44.0	1.5	51.1
9	Rennes	34	11.3	11.1	11.6	48.5	43.8	4.8	44.9
10	Strasbourg	34	11.7	9.5	12.8	37.5	44.2	-6.6	44.5
11	Montpellier	34	10.8	11.2	12.0	43.0	43.0	0.0	43.7
12	Lyon	34	9.8	8.0	16.2	39.8	54.4	-14.6	37.4
13	Le Havre	34	8.7	11.1	14.2	34.7	46.0	-11.3	37.2
14	Nantes	34	9.6	6.8	17.6	39.5	58.5	-19.0	35.5
15	Toulouse	34	6.5	12.0	15.5	34.3	51.8	-17.6	31.5
16	Metz	34	7.6	8.2	18.2	30.4	53.7	-23.3	31.0
17	Lorient	34	5.9	10.1	18.0	37.0	62.6	-25.6	27.8
18	Clermont	34	5.8	8.9	19.2	27.9	55.8	-28.0	26.5

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Rennes vs Marseille Stats Preview: Fortress Roazhon too Strong for Visitors

• Rennes only have a 4-3-3 home record this season, but historically they are known for being very strong here at Roazhon Park. They won 15 out of 19 Ligue 1 futures at this venue in the previous campaign.
• Rennes have scored at least two goals in 6 of the 9 fixtures that Julien Stephan has taken charge of.
• Marseille have only won one away league match this season.
• Marseille have scored at least one goal in 9 of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.
• Both teams have been quite clean this season and rank inside the bottom five for fouls committed in Ligue 1.

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SAFER GAMBLING

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