Rennes move top as Marseille suffer third loss in four

Rennes have moved into first place in Ligue 1 after defeating Marseille, deepening the visitors’ poor start to the campaign. Marseille, who began the match 10th and had already lost twice, now have three defeats from their opening four league games.

Adrien Thomasson decided the match in the 52nd minute, finishing from close range after Mousa Al-Tamari redirected Ludovic Blas’ cross. Rennes held on for a 1-0 victory despite Marseille’s strong first-half showing and late pressure. Both teams struck the woodwork after the interval, with Thomasson hitting the bar for Rennes before Igor Paixao did the same for Marseille.

Thomasson was the standout performer, earning a 7.5 rating after growing into the game, scoring the winner and nearly adding another. Brice Samba also played a decisive role for Rennes, making important saves from Paixao, Timothy Weah and Pierre-Émile Hojbjerg before denying Derek Cornelius in stoppage time.

The result gives Rennes the early lead in the standings and confirms their ability to recover after being tested during the opening period. Marseille showed attacking promise but could not convert their chances, leaving Franck Haise’s side under pressure before next week’s meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.