Coupe de France: OM avoid the Rennes trap and go to the round of 16

Stéphane Burgatt with AFP 7:54 a.m., January 21, 2023, modified at 7:55 a.m., January 21, 2023

OM's last triumph in this event, which at one time succeeded so well, dates back to 1989 and time is running out.

But the Marseillais have the right to dream, because they are very solid and elimination from the Champions League gives them the energy to lead Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France head-on.

By leaving Rennes on Friday, they also got rid of another candidate for the Cup.

"If we can continue this series until the end of the season, it will be with great pleasure. We know that it is not easy. We put no pressure on ourselves about that. We are always sure of We have to be aware of our qualities. What makes us strong is that we put a lot of intensity into matches. We stay very compact and that's what makes us strong. Inevitably, it's tiring. Now, we have one game a week, we train to play that way. And then when there is victory, fatigue, we don't feel it, "said the midfielder. of field Valentin Rongier at the microphone of Europe 1.

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OM continue their series of invincibility

To see Rennais and Marseillais explain themselves, the Vélodrome had moreover filled up and that says the value of the poster, especially since neither the timetable (9:10 p.m.) nor the strength of the Mistral encouraged you to put on nose out.

The approximately 57,000 spectators were rewarded with a show of good quality between two confident teams, OM remaining on seven consecutive victories and Rennes on a prestigious success against Paris SG.

But the five-man defense renewed by Bruno Genesio did not quite give the same impression of solidity as against the Parisians and it was Marseille who were the most dangerous during a first period when Tudor's men still seemed physically very fit.

Malinovskyi's pole

Sanchez on a dangerous back pass from Majer (4th) then from the head (17th) or Tavares at the end of a fine movement (18th) thus threatened Alemdar, Mandanda's replacement, but not as much as Malinovskyi.

Renowned for the heaviness of his shot, the Ukrainian, once again established, indeed gave a first example with a huge free kick struck from almost 30 meters and which rocked the left post of the Rennes goalkeeper (9th).

After the break, the game was more balanced and it was finally in one of its weak moments, the first of the match no doubt, that OM scored.

The goal came from a monstrous acceleration from Veretout over nearly 50 meters.

Far too powerful for Majer, whom he left very far behind him, the vice-world champion served Guendouzi, whose shot, slightly deflected, deceived Alemdar (59th).

Then, OM managed and then frankly suffered.

Deprived of Mandanda, Terrier and Kalimuendo, Rennes bravely tried to come back but was not very dangerous until a strike over Assignon after an average exit from Pau Lopez and, above all, a cross from Santamaria on the bar in the final seconds.

A victory that could lead to the final

"I'm optimistic. Many of my players are in good shape," Tudor predicted on Thursday.

He was right, because for almost an hour, OM still impressed.

It will take at least that again next week against Monaco in the league, then in early February to continue to advance in the Cup.

Marseille coach Igor Tudor had for his part estimated before the match that the absence of a Coupe de France title since 1993 in Marseille was "an additional motivation".

"We would like to win a trophy for the club and for the people of supporters who have been waiting for this for a long time," he said.

Without forgetting this statistic, since 1993, the winner of an OM-Rennes has always gone, at least, to the final of the competition.