Ligue 1 McDonald’s, 6th day, 09/27/24
In the absence of key personnel with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lucas Hernandez, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Marco Asensio and Gonçalo Ramos all missing through injury, PSG coach Luis Enrique had no choice but to field a strongly modified team against Rennes, four days. ahead of a mouth-watering Champions League clash at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Parisians thought they had clinched the opener in the third minute with Marquinhos beating Steve Mandanda from close range. The Brazilian central defender was offside after compatriot Lucas Beraldo fed him. The hosts were on top of proceedings with birthday boy João Neves – who turned 20 – pulling the strings in a deeper midfield role. Against his training club, Ousmane Dembélé was particularly useless, missing two clear scoring chances in the first 20 minutes. Achraf Hakimi shook Mandanda’s crossbar after Bradley Barcola’s incursion on the left.
The French international winger needed just one chance to find Mandanda’s net with a brilliant right-footed curling shot following a quick counter-attack engineered by Neves and Dembélé. A deserved lead given that Rennes was behind from the start. Paris could have even taken a bigger lead if it had taken advantage of the visitors’ shortcomings in defense.
The second half started like the first, with a goal denied to PSG. Hakimi had a perfect shot off the outside of the boot to beat Mandanda, but the Moroccan right-back was offside. It was only a matter of time before PSG got their second goal of the evening. Barcola came close to repeating their opener, but this time their curling effort hit Mandanda’s left post for the unmarked Kang-In Lee to head home.
Problems deepened for Rennes when substitute Mikayil Faye awkwardly lost the ball in midfield, allowing Lee to release Hakimi, whose cross found the onrushing Barcola for the latter to complete his brace. ParisiansThe evening could have been perfect if Lucas Beraldo had not handed over Hans Hateboer’s head. The referee showed the point and Arnaud Kalimuendo deceived Matvey Safonov with composure. The Russian goalkeeper had a few tense moments as PSG released their grip, but he showed a strong hand to fend off Albert Grønbæk.
Rennes thought they had reduced the gap further after Alidu Seidu scored from a tight angle, but the right-back suffered a handball. Luis Enrique, who rotated his team heavily in the second half in preparation for the match against Arsenal on Tuesday, cut an agitated figure on the touchline, seeing his team too easily overtaken by Rennes in the final minutes. Finally, PSG won a fifth victory in six Ligue 1 matches. As for the Bretons, they will fall to the bottom half of the standings after conceding a third defeat in the league. All eyes are now on the Emirates Stadium for PSG.
PSG player ratings
Matvei Safonov, 5 years old
Achraf Hakimi, 6 years old
Marquinhos, 6
Willian Pacho, 6 years old
Lucas Beraldo, 3 years old
The Brazilian central defender had a nervous start against Ludovic Blas on the left side of PSG. He made some important blocks but proved to be a handicap in the last 15 minutes. He cost his team a penalty and was fortunate to see Alidu Seidu’s goal disallowed.
João Neves, 7 years old
Marking his 20th birthday, the Sporting CP youth product made another excellent midfield shift, dictating the deep play with precise, forward-facing passes. Acquiring his services for the same amount (€60m) they sold Manuel Ugarte to Manchester United, this looks like an incredible shrewd deal from the Ligue 1 champions.
Fabien Ruiz, 5 years old
Warren Zaire-Emery, 4 years old
Ousmane Dembélé, 5 years old
A Dembélé brand game. The Rennes academy graduate was hilarious from the start between real moments of pure class and pace. To his credit, he helped Barcola with a coordinated pressure surge with Neves.
Kang-in Lee, 7 years old
In an unfamiliar center forward role, the South Korea international proved a reliable outlet for his teammates thanks to his excellent technique and hold-up play. He doubled his team’s lead by rushing to head home Barcola’s shot.
Bradley Barcola, 8 years old
In the absence of Ramos and Kolo Muani, the speedy PSG winger took charge with aplomb and ruthlessness. The French international scored a brilliant curler as well as a poacher from close range and was vital to Kang-In Lee’s goal. Barcola now tops the Ligue 1 goalscoring charts with six goals to their name.
Ratings of selected Rennes players
Leo Østigård, 3 years old
The Norway international was tasked with looking after Barcola and it didn’t work at all. The French international got the better of the former Neapolitan on numerous occasions. Hooked after the hour mark by Julien Stéphan.
Christophe Wooh, 3 years old
The Cameroon international lost the ball which led to Barcola’s opener. Booked for a dangerous tackle on Kang-In Lee.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
