Newcastle headache is over, PSG win in Rennes

After an embarrassing defeat in Newcastle in the Champions League (4-1), PSG needed an easy opponent to record a clean and quick victory before the international break. But the schedule gave them an away trip to Rennes, one of only two clubs in Ligue 1 without a defeat (Nice is the second), who also has a very favourable record with the Parisians (three wins and a draw at Roazhon Park). Luis Enrique was clever enough not to field a 4-2-4 formation like in Newcastle and put in Vitinha instead of Kolo Muani to form a 4-3-3. And it was Vitihna who scored a screamer to give the Parisians the lead which they used to win the game: Rennes – PSG 1-3. It was a game in which the Parisians didn’t dominate; in fact, the home team was equal for most parts of the game but didn’t use their chances early on, and when PSG scored two goals in the space of four minutes, it was difficult to get back in.

Kalimuendo was the first player to create a chance in the match, but Donnarumma made a great save in the 6th minute. The Italian keeper was firm not allowing any goals like the one he received against Newcastle, and made another great save in the 12th minute when he prevented Kaliumendo from putting his foot and scoring easily. And from then on, it was time for PSG’s goals. Vitinha came storming and switched the ball from his right foot, on the edge of the box, and curled a beautiful shot up over Mandanda and into the top corner. Minutes later, it was 2-0, and this time, it was Ashraf Hakimi who scored his fourth goal of the season, a pretty good number for a full-back.

The second half started again with Rennes' initiative and half-chances, and after Gonzalo Ramos missed a sitter provided by Mbappe, the home team finally scored through Amir Gouiri, but the hope lasted only two minutes. One minute after the goal, Luis Enrique changed Ramos with Kolo Muani, who scored immediately. From that moment on, the game was over, even though there were more than 30 minutes to play until the end. Rennes hit the bar in the 84th minute before Mbappe missed the entire empty goal to keep the score 3-1.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 8

Friday

Strasbourg - Nantes 1-2 (0-0)

/Sahi 90+2 - Coco 50, Moutoussamy 58/

Saturday

Metz - Nice 0-1 (0-1)

/Boudaoui 14/

Reims - Monaco 1-3 (0-1)

/Teuma 57 pen - Jakobs 46, Balogun 46, Ben Yedder 49/

Sunday

Olympique Marseille - Le Havre 3-0 (2-0)

/Sangante 18 og, Aubameyang 21, Sarr 84/

Olympique Lyon - Lorient 3-3 (3-1)

/Nouamah 21, Lacazette 22, 41 pen - Kroupi 16 pen, 54, Yongwa 79/

Montpellier - Clermont 4-2 (2-2) - postponed

/Al-Tamari 16, 72, Savanier 31, 48 pen - Magning 26, Konate 45/

Brest - Toulouse 1-1 (0-1)

/Satriano 90+3 Magri 27/

Lens - Lille 1-1 (0-1)

/Machado 70 - Andre 45+3/

Rennes - PSG 1-3 (0-2)

/Gouiri 56 - Vitinha 32, Hakimi 36, Kolo Muani 58/