Gouiri, Aubameyang lead Marseille to Coupe de France quarterfinals

Olympique Marseille cruised into the quarterfinals of the Coupe de France on Tuesday with goal contributions from Amine Gouiri and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a 3-0 victory over Rennes.

Gouiri scored the opening goal just after a minute gone from Timothy Weah’s assist before setting up Mason Greenwood to continue a decent start to 2026. Aubameyang came on as a substitute to add one more late goal for OM.

The strong start carried the hosts to victory at the Stade Vélodrome. Weah’s high pressing caused a giveaway by the Rennes defense and the American squared the ball for Gouiri to finish from close range.

After halftime, visitors Rennes lost their focus again and it was the dynamic forward who turned provider this time, setting up Greenwood for an excellent finish to make it 2-0 against his former team. After missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria due to injury, he has six goals and two assists in his last nine matches since returning to the pitch after a two-and-a-half month absence.

A dejected Rennes defense stood no chance in the 83rd minute when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s excellent pass sent Greenwood in all alone on goal. With Aubameyang making a run to his left, the Englishman unselfishly passed over to the veteran forward to finish into the unguarded net.

 

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The Gabonese goal scorer now has goals in his last two matches to bring his goal contribution total to nineteen this season, with 9 goals and 10 assists in 27 matches across all competitions.

Lightning-fast start sets the tone

Marseille barely allowed the visitors time to settle before asserting control. Inside the opening minute, aggressive high pressing paid immediate dividends. Timothy Weah, relentless in his work rate down the flank, forced a costly error from the Rennes back line. Spotting space centrally, the American squared the ball across the box for Amine Gouiri, who calmly finished from close range to give OM a dream start.

The early breakthrough ignited the Vélodrome crowd and visibly rattled Rennes. Marseille continued to press with purpose, cutting off passing lanes and forcing hurried clearances. Gouiri, brimming with confidence, repeatedly drifted between the lines, while Greenwood’s movement stretched the visiting defense and created overloads in wide areas.

Control and patience before halftime

Despite Marseille’s fast start, Rennes attempted to regain composure midway through the first half by slowing the tempo and keeping possession. However, OM’s midfield structure remained disciplined, preventing Rennes from finding rhythm in the final third. The hosts were content to recycle the ball, waiting for the right moment to strike again.

Though chances were limited before the interval, Marseille’s superiority was evident. Rennes struggled to transition cleanly from defense to attack, often losing the ball under pressure. The half ended with Marseille firmly in control, their early goal allowing them to manage the contest intelligently.

Greenwood strikes against former club

If Rennes hoped for a reset after halftime, those ambitions were quickly dashed. Marseille emerged with renewed intensity, and once again Gouiri was at the heart of the action. Showing sharp awareness, the Algerian forward turned provider, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Mason Greenwood.

Facing his former club, Greenwood showed composure and class, producing an excellent finish to double Marseille’s lead. The goal not only widened the gap but also symbolized Greenwood’s growing influence within Roberto De Zerbi’s system, as he continues to blend creativity with end product.

For Gouiri, the assist further highlighted a remarkable run of form. After missing the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 due to injury, the forward has returned strongly, registering six goals and two assists in his last nine appearances following a two-and-a-half-month layoff. His sharpness, movement, and decision-making have added a new dimension to Marseille’s attack.

Aubameyang puts the seal on it

As Rennes pushed forward in search of a response, spaces inevitably opened up at the back. Marseille exploited this ruthlessly in the 83rd minute. A sublime through ball from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg split the Rennes defense, sending Greenwood clean through on goal.

With the goalkeeper beaten and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sprinting alongside him, Greenwood showed great unselfishness. Instead of going for goal himself, he squared the ball for the veteran striker, who tapped into an unguarded net to make it 3–0 and complete a commanding Marseille performance.

Aubameyang’s goal continued his impressive run, marking his second consecutive match on the scoresheet. The Gabonese forward now boasts 19 goal contributions this season—nine goals and ten assists in 27 appearances across all competitions—underscoring his continued value despite coming off the bench in this encounter.