Mid-championship, OM reinforced its status as runner-up to PSG, indisputable
leader of Ligue 1. In
beating Stade Rennais Saturday evening in Brittany, Roberto de Zerbi’s players return to four points behind the Parisians while the latter will conclude the 17th day by welcoming AS Saint-Etienne on Sunday (kick-off at 8:45 p.m.). In the meantime, OM are enjoying a success obtained in a very unfavorable refereeing context.
It took a new exploit from Rulli to prevent Rennes from opening the score following a penalty awarded more than generously for a ball that hit Murillo’s hand. The OM goalkeeper stopped Kalimuendo’s attempt (32nd), the third check this season in this exercise for the 2022 Argentinian world champion. The Marseillais should have taken cover when the referee designated the penalty for a handball by Grönbaek on a direct free kick taken by Höjbjerg (86th).
Rabiot is starting to get used to it
But the VAR still opposed the Marseille club by asking its colleague from the center to check the images. And Mr. Kherradji canceled his decision, there too, in a more than questionable choice. Fortunately for OM, Greenwood had concluded a superb collective movement before the break (1-1, 45th), almost in the wake of Kalimuendo’s opening score for Rennes, against the run of play (43rd).
With the desire to wait for their opponents throughout the match, the Bretons were punished by Rabiot’s precise header, served by Greenwood (1-2, 49th). The French international midfielder scored his third goal this season, the second in the Championship. OM will still miss the goal of the break, Rowe stumbling on a Samba (90th + 4) who played his first match with Rennes on Saturday evening since his departure from Lens.
