The defeat of the Olympique de Marseille against Stade Rennais (0-1) at the beginning of the 2025-2026 season prompted a strong reaction. Pascal Dupraz, a former Toulouse coach, analyzed the meeting on RMC Sport, highlighting Marseille defensive mistakes as the cause of the goal at the end of the game. He described this situation as a “school case”, especially criticizing the position of Marseille defenders, especially when an opponent like Quentin Merlin is isolated on the left side. Dupraz insists that these defensive mistakes have been recurring since the previous season, and that they are linked to a lack of leadership and presence of key players like Medina, who was absent that day.

Dupraz’s analysis is not limited to tactics, but also to the mental aspect of the Marseille team. He believes that the frustration of not winning leads to the oblivion of the defensive fundamentals, and that even a draw would have been a more acceptable result than this defeat. Despite the domination of the ball (nearly 72%) and numerous attacks, OM failed to break through the Rennes defence, which showed strength and discipline, especially after the expulsion of Aït-Boudlal. The Marseilles occasions, such as the shootings of Adrien Rabiot and Amir Murillo’s head, have not been realized.

The victory of Rennes, achieved by a goal in the additional time by Ludovic Blas, represents a surprise and a bad omen for the OM of Roberto De Zerbi. Despite the new recruits and undeniable offensive potential, the lack of realism and sharpness suggest difficulties for the coming season. This defeat highlights a persistent defensive fragility, despite efforts to attack. The lack of concrete results despite the possession of a bullet raises questions about the ability of the team to turn its offensive potential into points.