Football Bet of the Day for Friday: Greenwood and OM to Shine. Marseille visit Rennes in an action-packed Ligue 1 opener. Read on to view the tips and full expert analysis…
One of our trusted experts, known for his deep knowledge of French football, has picked this game as Today’s Best Bet, and the selection makes plenty of sense.
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⚽ Football Bet of the Day
Rennes vs Marseille
Emmanuel Nwankwo; Sports journalist at BettingTips4You
Both Teams to Score: No | |
7/10 - odds when tipped |  |
Reasoning Cruzeiro hold a two-goal first-leg lead, defend superbly and expertly manage second halves. Atletico Mineiro, winless in three and goalless throughout, arrive under a new coach likely to value stability. This derby rarely opens up—six straight meetings were one-sided on the scoreboard. | |
📈 Three Key Stats Behind Today’s Best Bet
- Marseille have beaten Rennes in 4 of their last 5 encounters.
- Rennes managed just 1 win from 6 friendlies this summer.
- OM averaged over 2 goals per game in Ligue 1 last season.
WHY BETTING WITH WILLIAM HILL? | |
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Rationale:
Friday night marks the return of top-flight French football as Rennes face off against Marseille at Roazhon Park. Our Ligue 1 specialist Emmanuel Nwanko has selected this clash as today’s Best Bet, and the case for an action-packed away win is strong.
Rennes stumbled their way through the 2024/25 season, eventually finishing 12th — a disappointing return for a club that had previously established itself in the European conversation. Their issues were compounded by a chaotic managerial shift midway through the campaign, with Jorge Sampaoli’s tenure ending in disarray. The club turned to Habib Beye in January, and although his arrival steadied the course, Rennes still lacked consistency.
In contrast, Marseille enjoyed a resurgence under Roberto De Zerbi. After a dismal finish the year before, they bounced back with a second-place finish — securing Champions League football once more. Their attacking style under the Italian boss proved both effective and entertaining, registering 74 goals in 34 league matches. The summer has seen even more attacking muscle added, with Adrien Rabiot and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining an already formidable front line led by Mason Greenwood.
Greenwood was the standout last season, ending as joint-top scorer in the division. He returns sharp and hungry, and his movement should trouble a Rennes defence that remains unsettled — especially with doubts over Lilian Brassier’s fitness. Rennes have bolstered their squad, but with key departures and players still integrating, this feels like a tricky opener for them.
Pre-season results suggest Marseille are ready. They not only remained unbeaten but also produced a commanding 3-1 win over Aston Villa in their final friendly. Rennes, on the other hand, failed to win five of their six warm-up matches.
Historically, OM have also had the upper hand in this fixture — claiming four wins from the last five meetings, including a high-scoring 4-2 victory to close out last season. Rennes are typically tough at home, but Marseille’s firepower should tip the balance again.
De Zerbi’s approach encourages attacking risk, and while that often leads to goals at both ends, his side usually has enough quality to outscore opponents. With both teams likely to find the net and Marseille having proven they can win here, the smart play is to back a Marseille win with goals on both sides.
✅ Best Bet: Marseille to Win and Both Teams to Score
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