Rennes secure a late 1-0 victory over Marseille in the opening match of Ligue 1, scoring on the brink of full-time.
In a thrilling start to the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season, Rennes emerged victorious against a 10-man Marseille at Roazhon Park. The match, marked by resilience and missed opportunities, ended with a 91st-minute winner from Ludovic Blas, a "sucker punch" for Marseille that stunned the visitors.
Despite being reduced to 10 men for over an hour following the sending off of Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Marseille dominated possession and created several significant chances. Adrien Rabiot and Amir Murillo both hit the post, while goalkeeper Bryce Samba made several crucial saves to keep Rennes in the game.
Rennes' defense held firm under intense pressure, with key defensive efforts from Tamari and Quinton Merlin thwarting Marseille's late attempts. The winning goal came in the form of a cool, controlled finish from Blas, set up by a long pass from Merlin, a former Marseille player.
The victory, sealed by Blas' late strike, was a hard-fought and memorable one for Rennes' manager Abbe. Meanwhile, Marseille, coached by Roberto De Zerbi, will be left to ponder their missed chances, particularly those that hit the woodwork.
Elsewhere in the Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, will kick off their title defense on Sunday against Nantes. The venue for the match has not been specified.
In other news, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has returned to Marseille for his second spell with the team, was unable to find the back of the net against Rennes. Rennes' defense managed to prevent him from scoring, adding another layer of resilience to their performance.
Toronto morning news reports Rennes' impressive 1-0 win over 10-man Marseille in Ligue 1, with the deciding goal coming from Ludovic Blas. Meanwhile, in European leagues, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to score against Rennes as he began his second stint at Marseille. This Saturday, sports fans in Toronto can watch Paris Saint-Germain, the defending champions, take on Nantes in Ligue 1 action.
