Mason Greenwood was on the scoresheet as Marseille eased past Rennes with a 3-0 victory to book their place in the Coupe de France quarter-finals, delivering a composed response after a turbulent spell.
The hosts struck early through Amine Gouri, doubled their advantage shortly after the break when Greenwood finished calmly, and sealed the result late on via Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a contest that rarely slipped from their control.
The only moment of real tension came in the first half when Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri escaped a red card for a heavy challenge on Glen Kamara, an incident that left Rennes furious and disrupted their rhythm. Marseille, however, stayed focused and ruthless when the chances arrived.
The win arrives at a crucial moment for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who had been searching for stability following a heavy Champions League defeat to Club Brugge and a frustrating Ligue 1 draw after surrendering a two-goal lead. Progress in the domestic cup offers both relief and momentum as the season intensifies.
The Stade Velodrome set the tone early, with Marseille pressing aggressively from kickoff and forcing mistakes high up the pitch. That approach paid dividends almost immediately, as Timothy Weah’s work rate unsettled Rennes and opened space for Gouri to strike inside the opening minute.
Rennes struggled to settle after falling behind and were further destabilised by the Kamara injury, which forced a midfield reshuffle. Marseille continued to dominate possession and territory, controlling the tempo through midfield and limiting their visitors to isolated breaks.
Greenwood’s goal shortly after half-time effectively ended the contest. Gouri turned provider this time, slipping a precise pass into the area for the forward to convert with confidence. Aubameyang then put the result beyond doubt in the closing stages, capitalising on tiring legs and loose defending.
The second half followed a familiar pattern, with Marseille dictating play and Rennes unable to generate sustained pressure. De Zerbi’s side managed the game intelligently, slowing the pace when needed and accelerating sharply in transition.
Greenwood’s strike took his season tally to 22 goals in all competitions, underlining the impact of his move to France and his growing importance within the squad. Marseille’s decision to invest in the forward continues to be repaid on the pitch as he delivers consistently in key moments.
Attention now turns quickly to Ligue 1, where Marseille face Paris Saint-Germain this weekend. Sitting third and nine points behind the leaders, De Zerbi’s team know victory is essential if they are to keep their title ambitions alive and build on the confidence gained from cup progression.
