Paris Saint-Germain lost at home to Stade Rennes on Sunday. Christophe Galtier’s stripped-down team, which has to miss many more stars in addition to Neymar, came up with plenty of opportunities under the leadership of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. They all didn’t go in, while Rennes showed itself to be deadly effective twice: 0-2. A lashing whistle from the Parc des Princes remained afterwards for PSG, which is still very flourishing in Ligue 1 with nine points ahead of number two RC Lens. Rennes climbs to fifth place.
In the absence of Neymar, Galtier again opted for a formation with only two attackers: Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. In the back, the trainer had to improvise a lot, because Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe are injured. Juan Bernat, El Chadaille Bitshiabu and Danilo Pereira formed the central defense, while Timothée Pembélé and Nuno Mendes occupied the back positions. At Rennes, Amine Gouiri lost his place in the front to the only eighteen-year-old Lesley Ugochukwu.
????????! Stade Rennais extends further ??
Kalimuendo manages to double the lead: 0-2! ??Will this still work out for PSG?#ZiggoSport #Ligue1 #PSGSRFC pic.twitter.com/HuJmM3Ddok
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) March 19, 2023
PSG played an excellent first half, with Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda keeping his side going three times with a crucial save. Mbappé was released by Messi early in the game, but the former’s marker did not get past Mandanda. The keeper also intervened perfectly after half an hour when Messi fired a low shot after knocking over opponent Christopher Wooh. Five minutes before the break, Messi again launched Mbappé, who thought he scored with a powerful shot. However, Mandanda saved in two instances.
One long ball in the last minute of the first half was enough for Rennes to score a goal. Karl Toko Ekambi simply walked away from the three central defenders and shot in: 0-1. Three minutes after the break, it was another hit for the visitors. Mbappé’s loss of possession on the halfway line led to a Rennes counter. Ugochukwu was released on the left flank, after which his low cross was tapped in by Arnaud Kalimuendo: 0-2. PSG started another offensive, but the ball just wouldn’t go in for Galtier’s star team.