PSG Stunned by Rennes as Lens Closes in on Top Spot

Rennes Stuns PSG in Ligue 1

PARIS: In a stunning turn of events, Rennes managed to defeat Paris St-Germain (PSG) 3-1 four days after sacking their coach, Habib Beye. This victory not only ended PSG's seven-match winning streak in Ligue 1 but also sent shockwaves through the football community.

With this win, Rennes has climbed to fifth place in the league table, while second-placed Lens now has a chance to overtake PSG if they secure a win against Paris FC on Saturday.

PSG started the match with energy, as Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue created several opportunities, although none of them led to goals. The team's performance was somewhat inconsistent, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by defensive lapses.

Rennes made a significant change just days before the match when they decided to part ways with Beye and promoted his assistant, Sebastien Tambouret. The transformation in the team's performance was evident, as players who had previously struggled began to show renewed vigor and determination.

The first goal of the match came from Jordanian forward Mousa Al-Tamari, who scored a powerful shot into the bottom corner in the 34th minute. This early lead gave Rennes a crucial advantage.

Esteban Lepaul added to the lead in the 69th minute with a header from a corner. However, PSG responded quickly, with Dembele scoring an equalizer two minutes later after turning home a deflected cross.

Luis Enrique, PSG's manager, made tactical changes, substituting Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-in. These changes were likely influenced by the upcoming Champions League play-off round first leg against Monaco.

The decisive third goal for Rennes came from substitute Breel Embolo, who scored with nine minutes remaining. This goal sealed a famous victory for Rennes and marked a significant moment in their season.

Despite scoring his seventh goal in ten matches, Dembele expressed concerns about his team's performance. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and collective effort.

"We need to win this kind of match. We need to play as a team, not as individuals," Dembele said. "We need to put more desire into it. We have to play for Paris St-Germain to win matches, because if we play alone on the pitch, it won’t go well, we won’t win the titles we want."

Dembele also praised Rennes, acknowledging their strong performance in the match. He highlighted the club's role in his career development, noting that he gained prominence there a decade ago.

In terms of goalkeeping, Luis Enrique chose Matvei Safonov over Lucas Chevalier. Safonov was unable to react to Al-Tamari's opener, while central defender Willian Pacho failed to challenge effectively. His partner, Illia Zabarnyi, was sluggish during the other two goals.

Looking ahead, PSG's rivals for the Champions League last-16, Monaco, will face Nantes in a late match on Friday. This sets the stage for an exciting week of football action.