Marseille arrive at Roazhon Park in crisis mode. Back-to-back defeats — a 3-2 loss to Paris and a 2-0 shutout against Monaco — have left Roberto De Zerbi's side reeling, and a trip to a confident Rennes FC is hardly the fixture they would have chosen to stop the bleeding. The question facing Marseille ahead of Friday's kickoff at 18:45 UTC is whether they can rediscover the defensive solidity that has completely deserted them across those two results, in which they conceded five goals and scored just twice.

Rennes, by contrast, head into this encounter riding a wave of positivity. A 2-1 victory over Angers followed by a hard-fought 3-2 win against Le Mans means the hosts have found the net five times in their last two outings. Crucially, both of those results were achieved despite conceding, which suggests Rennes possess the attacking firepower to respond when they fall behind — a trait that could prove decisive against a Marseille side that has shown vulnerability at the back.

The key battle in this fixture is likely to be in midfield, where Rennes will look to impose their tempo and exploit Marseille's recent struggles in transition. OM were carved open repeatedly by Paris on the counter, and Monaco's clinical finishing in a 2-0 win further exposed a side that looks unsettled without the ball. If Rennes can press high and force turnovers, they have the forward quality to punish Marseille just as their recent opponents have done.

For Marseille, the stakes are mounting. Two consecutive league defeats risk turning a difficult patch into a full-blown slide down the table, and confidence can evaporate quickly when results turn. A positive result in Rennes would go some way toward steadying the ship, but OM will need a significantly improved defensive display to earn anything from this trip. Rennes, meanwhile, will view this as a golden opportunity to build on their recent momentum and claim a statement scalp at home.

Prediction: Given Rennes' strong recent form and Marseille's defensive fragility across their last two matches, the hosts look well-placed to extend their winning streak. Expect Rennes to take the game to their visitors and find the net at least twice. A 2-1 Rennes win feels the most likely outcome in what should be an open, entertaining contest at Roazhon Park.