Marseille cruise to comfortable victory against Rennes to secure Europa League place

Rennes began the last day in fifth place, holding a three-point lead over Marseille and harbouring a slim hope of breaking into the top four.

However, their aspirations of securing a UEFA Champions League berth were all but dashed by a calamitous first ten minutes at the Stade Vélodrome.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg took only two minutes to notch his fourth Ligue 1 goal of the campaign, guiding a low strike past Mathys Silistrie.

Things rapidly deteriorated for Rennes as the relentless Amine Gouiri charged down Silistrie’s clearance, steering the ball into the unguarded net.

Stunned by their slow start, Rennes eventually posed an attacking threat midway through the first half when Ludovic Blas forced Gerónimo Rulli into a save at the near post.

The Marseille keeper then had to produce a far more challenging save to deny Musa Al-Taamari’s curling attempt from range, reacting quickly to tip the ball onto the crossbar.

Having been reminded of the visitors’ danger, Habib Beye, dismissed by Rennes in February, would have been thrilled to see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang extend his side’s advantage early in the second half.

A sequence that began with Rennes carelessly surrendering possession ended with Aubameyang dispatching a perfectly weighted chip into the far post.

As the match entered its final moments, Esteban Lepaul demonstrated why he is Ligue 1’s leading marksman, leaping high to guide a header home from Arnaud Nordin’s lofted cross, just minutes after Mahdi Camara had rattled the woodwork.

Lepaul’s 21st league goal provided Franck Haise’s side with some late momentum, but it could not prevent them from suffering a defeat that condemns them to the Conference League, unless Lens overcome Nice in the Coupe de France final, turning sixth place into a Europa League berth.