Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has risen to the third spot in the Ligue 1 standings, securing 15 points, and is trailing the league leaders, Monaco, by a mere two points. This remarkable achievement comes after PSG’s dominant 3-1 triumph over Rennes on their opponent’s turf. In contrast, Rennes, currently occupying the eighth position, suffered their first defeat of the season and clearly struggled to keep pace with PSG, particularly in the vital offensive aspects of the game.
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PSG’s convincing triumph was fueled by goals from Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, and Randal Kolo Muani. Vitinha ignited the scoring with a magnificent strike, expertly curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box, leaving goalkeeper Steve Mandanda helpless. Hakimi swiftly extended PSG’s lead by heading in a Warren Zaire-Emery cross, and the first half concluded with PSG holding a comfortable 2-0 advantage, despite Mandanda’s denial of Kylian Mbappe’s one-on-one chance.
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Although Rennes managed to notch a well-executed goal through Amine Gouiri, PSG promptly reestablished their two-goal lead as substitute Kolo Muani found the net with his first touch.
PSG had opportunities to widen the margin even further but squandered them in the closing stages. Substitute Bradley Barcola missed a prime chance to mark his first PSG goal, marred by a poor first touch. Additionally, Mbappe missed an open goal after a brilliant dribble that left the fatigued defense trailing and Mandanda rounded.
The victory propelled PSG to the third spot, securing 15 points, a mere two points behind the league leaders, Monaco. Conversely, Rennes, after enduring their first defeat of the season, now occupies the eighth place in the standings.
This match underscored PSG’s potential as a strong contender in Ligue 1, emphasizing their dominant performance. Despite some late wastefulness, PSG aims to maintain their momentum as the season progresses, while Rennes seeks to recover from their inaugural loss and regain their form.
DISCUSSION POINT – KOLO MUANI MAKES A STATEMENT
In a notable turn of events, Kolo Muani was the sole player excluded from the starting lineup that featured in the match against Newcastle, a game that ended in a resounding 4-1 defeat. Luis Enrique displayed unwavering faith in his beleaguered squad, with one exception – Kolo Muani.
Goncalo Ramos, who took up the forward position, grappled and missed a pivotal scoring opportunity. In stark contrast, Kolo Muani made an instant impact, not only scoring with his first touch but also finding the net from a chance that was initially disallowed due to an offside in the buildup. His ability to seamlessly integrate with his teammates, particularly Mbappe and Hakimi, further underscored his significance to the team.
While PSG still searches for a distinct identity, Kolo Muani’s performance in this match demonstrated that the team operates at a higher level when he is on the field.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – VITINHA (PSG)
Vitinha claimed the coveted Player of the Match award in recognition of his outstanding display. His elegant opening goal, marked by a skillfully curved shot from the edge of the penalty area that found the top corner, established the winning rhythm for PSG. Additionally, Vitinha shone in terms of link-up play, creating numerous scoring opportunities with incisive passes.
PLAYER RATINGS
Rennes: Mandanda 7, Assignon 7, Omari 6, Theate 5, Belocian 5, Bourigeaud 5, Matic 6, Blas 5, Rieder 4, Gouiri 6, Kalimuendo 6. Substitutes: Doue 5, Truffert 5, Le Fee 5, Yildirim 6, Terrier 5.
PSG: Donnarumma 7, Hakimi 8, Skriniar 6, Marquinhos 7, Hernandez 6, Zaire-Emery 7, Ugarte 6, Vitinha 8, Dembele 6, Ramos 5, Mbappe 7. Substitutes: Kolo Muani 8, Barcola 4, Ruiz 5, Soler n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
SAVE! 12′ – Donnarumma, at full stretch, dives out and gathers Blas’ low cross to deny Kalimuendo a tap-in Excellent goalkeeping. GOAL! RENNES 0-1 PSG (VITINHA) 32′ – A PSG attack starts with a Marquinhos backheel on his own byline. Ugarte feeds Dembele as the ball crosses halfway, the winger cuts in from the right and with space to shoot he