Habib Beye returns to the Vélodrome on Sunday at 21:00 for Marseille vs Rennes, facing the club that dismissed him in early February in a match that now carries real weight in the chase for Europe. Rennes arrive three points ahead of OM, while Marseille can finish no better than fifth even if they win.
The timing sharpens the meeting. Since 9 February, Rennes have taken 28 points from 12 games, compared with OM's 17 points from 12 games, a swing that has changed the race between the clubs. On 8 February, OM were fourth with an eight-point lead after the 0-5 loss against Paris-SG. Now the margin is gone, Rennes are chasing the Champions League, and Marseille are trying to keep even their Europa League hopes alive.
Beye has tried to keep the focus on the pitch. He said he respects Rennes and is not motivated by revenge, but wants to sign off well with OM. He also said he believes in destiny. That is a striking frame for a game shaped as much by memory as by form, because the coach standing in Marseille’s dugout this weekend was pushed out by the side he is now trying to catch.
His exit from Rennes turned fractious after a 3-0 Coupe de France loss at the Vélodrome and a 3-1 defeat at Lens, and the dispute is now headed for a labour tribunal. The break had been building for weeks. Rennes were frustrated by uneven results and by Beye’s more directive approach, while senior players were benched. Even during a brief rally, when Rennes beat Lille 2-0 on 3 January, inconsistency remained despite victories over OM, Lyon, Strasbourg and Monaco.
The contrast with Marseille has been just as sharp. According to L'Équipe, Franck Haise was appointed on 18 February, and Beye took over at OM the same day, stepping into a turbulent context. Marseille beat OL 3-2 on 1 March, then exited on penalties against Toulouse on 4 March. League defeats to Lille and at Lorient have left them scrambling to recover ground they once held comfortably.
Beye’s own memory of stepping into the top flight adds another layer to the occasion. He recalled his first match in the division, Strasbourg 1-0 on 2 February 2025, and Sunday’s return to the Vélodrome offers another marker in a season that has moved quickly and turned sharply. Rennes have surged since he left, Marseille have wobbled through the same stretch, and the standings now reflect that difference. For Beye, the night is less about settling a score than proving he can end it well.
