Florian Thauvin scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season but
also missed a penalty as Marseille cruised to a 3-0 victory at Rennes
yesterday that kept them firmly in the Champions League race.
The former Newcastle winger saw a first-half spot-kick saved by Rennes
goalkeeper Tomas Koubek but redeemed himself by setting up Valere
Germain for the opening goal on 35 minutes.
Thauvin’s ninth assist of the season drew him level alongside Neymar,
with Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain away to Claudio Ranieri’s
fifth-place Nantes on Sunday.
Hiroki Sakai produced a brilliant goal-line block to deny Ismaila Sarr
an equaliser, and minutes later Germain teed up Morgan Sanson to rifle
in Marseille’s second just before half-time.
Thauvin completed the scoring at Roazhon Park eight minutes from the end
when he nodded in a cross from Brazilian midfielder Luiz Gustavo.
Marseille avenged a 3-1 defeat by Rennes at the Velodrome in September —
one of just three losses for Rudi Garcia’s team this season — to move
level on 41 points with second-place Monaco and Lyon.
Monaco, who trail PSG by nine points, were scheduled to visit
Montpellier later yesterday while Lyon will also go in search of a fifth
straight league win when they host second-from-bottom Angers today.
Marseille’s Florian Thauvin celebrates scoring their third goal during the Ligue 1 match against Rennes at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France, yesterday. (Reuters)