Olympique de Marseille signed off Round 34 with a sharp 3-1 win over Stade Rennais at the Orange Velodrome. A fast start put the hosts in control, and a ruthless midfield display from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg did the rest. Rennes had volume, but Marseille had the finish.

Lightning start sets the tone

Marseille hit the front inside two minutes. Mason Greenwood drove through the right half-space and slipped the ball into Højbjerg, who finished low for 1-0. Eight minutes later Amine Gouiri doubled the lead with a tidy right-foot strike from inside the box.

After the break, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 3-0 on 55 minutes, guided in from a Højbjerg pass. The Gabon striker piled up eight shots and six on target. The scoreline could have been bigger, but Marseille also racked up six big chances missed.

Højbjerg runs the midfield

The captain delivered a complete performance. Højbjerg scored, assisted and led Marseille for key passes with four. He completed 44 of 55 passes, won a tackle and made six ball recoveries.

On Sofascore he posted a Sofascore Rating of 9.1, the highest on the pitch. Greenwood backed him with a lively 8.7 Sofascore Rating, four key passes and an assist. Gouiri added a goal and a 7.9 Sofascore Rating.

Rennes respond but run out of time

Franck Haise’s side created territory and corners and finally broke through on 84 minutes. Substitute Arnaud Nordin bent in a fine cross and Esteban Lepaul headed home for 3-1. Nordin made an impact in 23 minutes with two key passes and a 7.1 Sofascore Rating.

Mathys Silistrie kept Rennes in it with eight saves but also recorded one error leading to a goal. Rennes struck the woodwork twice and won the aerial battle, yet met a back line that cleared everything. Valentin Rongier completed 77 of 84 passes and Quentin Merlin produced seven key passes, but the late push came too late.