Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 25, 08/03/2025
PSG have defeated Habib Beye’s resurgent Rennes facet for his or her Ligue 1 sport sandwiched between their Champions League RO16 legs in opposition to Liverpool. Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos provided Les Parisiens a two-goal lead. Lilian Brassier halved the deficit and Ousmane Dembélé scored a quickfire brace to see off the Bretons.
The Match
With a cushty lead on the high of the Ligue 1 standings and an upending Champions League return leg at Anfield on Tuesday, PSG head coach Luis Enrique logically rotated his squad in Brittany with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé all benched. On his nineteenth birthday, Warren Zaïre-Emery was given the skipper’s armband and the right-back spot.
Regardless of a heavy turnover, PSG pinned the hosts in their very own half, probing Rennes’ backline for any flaws with João Neves pulling the strings as ever from midfield. On their finish, Rennes squandered their uncommon counter-attack alternatives. Gonçalo Ramos missed the early probability in making use of inadequate energy at Brice Samba’s close to publish. The France worldwide goalkeeper can be left stranded as Neves rapidly took a free-kick to feed Désiré Doué. The previous Rennes Academy product noticed Bradley Barcola’s run and the winger went on to place the ball between Samba’s legs and into the online.
Rennes missed the chance to right away restore parity with Ludovic Blas dragging a shot simply large of Matvei Safonov’s left publish. For his first begin upfront, Mohamed Kader Meïté went inches away from equalizing as he beat Willian Pacho within the air to rattle Safonov’s crossbar. 5 minutes into the second half, PSG obtained themselves a two-goal cushion courtesy of an excellent group transfer. Doué bypassed Rennes’ protection with an excellent move for Barcola, performed onside by Anthony Rouault, and Ramos was on cue to drive the winger’s cross into the again of the online.
To their credit score, Les Rouge et Noir didn’t quit, as many groups would on this state of affairs. They have been handed a nook as Safonov parried Kalimuendo’s effort away. Within the ensuing nook kick, Blas discovered Jérémy Jacquet, whose looping backwards header kindly fell on Marseille loanee Lilian Brassier, who made no mistake at shut vary.
Rennes then appear to be they might snatch an unlikely draw in opposition to the Ligue 1 pace-setters, however they lacked ruthlessness in Safonov’s six-yard field. Substitute Ousmane Dembélé had no such bother. He first wasted a golden alternative to revive Paris’ two-goal cushion earlier than redeeming himself with a quickfire double throughout damage time. A welcome confidence enhance earlier than Tuesday’s Anfield showdown within the Champions League.
Rennes participant rankings
Brice Samba – 4
Jérémy Jacquet – 5
Anthony Rouault – 3
Lilian Brassier – 5
Lorenz Assignon – 4
The previous Burnley right-back has struggled to include the tempo of Barcola and his attacking output left a lot to be desired.
Jordan James –4
Ismaël Koné – 4
Ludovic Blas – 5
Adrien Truffert – 4
Mohamed Kader Meïté – 4
The 17-year-old had a irritating but encouraging first begin in opposition to the most effective protection in Ligue 1. He had a lonely shift upfront alongside Arnaud Kalimuendo however didn’t capitalise on the uncommon possibilities that went his approach. He beat Pacho within the air to drive a header on Safonov’s crossbar and rushed himself within the field after an enormous mishap from Beraldo. Changed by Kyogo Furuhashi for the final ten minutes.
Arnaud Kalimuendo – 4
PSG participant rankings
Matvei Safonov – 5
Warren Zaïre-Emery – 4
Lucas Beraldo – 3
The Brazilian centre-back has not made a lot of an impression, looking of tempo and made to work arduous to include Rennes’ bodily forwards. A miscontrol of his gave Meïté a golden alternative to revive parity. Marquinhos can relaxation simple his spot appears locked in.
Willian Pacho – 4
Lucas Hernandez – 5
Senny Mayulu – 5
João Neves – 6
Lee Kang-in – 4
Désiré Doué – 7
Again on the Roazhon Park, the previous Rennes Academy graduate was good once more. He was instrumental for PSG’s first two targets, giving them a platform to construct upon their win. What a useful participant he has turn out to be.
Gonçalo Ramos – 5
Bradley Barcola – 6
GFFN | Bastien Cheval – reporting from Rennes’ Roazhon Park