Four days before the reception of Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League, PSG wanted to confirm the impression left in Lille last Sunday (4-1). Because if Paris has a good mattress in advance at the top of Ligue 1, Mauricio Pochettino’s men are struggling to convince in the game and have little certainty before facing the Madrid club.
Proof of this Parisian paradox, the ultras of the club had decided to express their dissatisfaction by deserting the stands for the first 25 minutes of the meeting.
The Parisian supporters will not have had the opportunity to see their team jostled at the start of the first period. It is Rennes who are most at ease at the Park. Bourigeaud launched hostilities with a top shot on which Navas secured (6′), followed by Majer (13′), then by Santamaria whose header from a corner did not find the target (14′).
The Park whistles its players
Faced with a compact Rennes block which is retreating as Paris regains control of the ball, PSG are uninspired. Because the offensive trident composed from left to right of Mbappé, Messi and Simons is not found. Placed in a false 9, the Argentinian comes to get the balls lower and therefore abandons the Rennes area in which Paris lacks presence.
So as often in such a situation, the Parisians rely on the speed of Mbappé. The Parisian striker has the opportunity to open the scoring just before the break. Served by Verratti, the number 7 returned to his right foot and fired a shot that crashed into the post before Xavi Simons’ shot was pushed back on his line by Aguerd (40′).
Whistled by the public at the Parc des Princes at the break, PSG moved into the Rennes camp in the second half. The territorial domination of Paris stifled the ardor of Rennes, but was no more decisive. For his first tenure in Ligue 1, Xavi Simmons has the merit of bringing movement but shows technical waste. Behind him, Draxler struggles to exist.
But even in a moribund collective performance, Paris has players capable of making the decision at any time. First warning on the hour mark: Messi finds Mbappé in the interval, who deceives Alemdar with the right foot but is signaled in an offside position (64 ‘).
Mbappé still decisive
Despite the entries of Di Maria or Icardi, Paris remains amorphous and is quietly heading towards a disappointing draw. But after additional time, the summons gives way to action. Alerted 30m from the goals, Messi finds Mbappé on his left. The Frenchman shifts on his right foot and wraps a shot which comes to lodge in the small net (93 ‘).
Paris therefore leaves with the three points thanks to a goal scored on its only shot on target. Failing to convince, the Parisians give themselves the right to calmly prepare for their Champions League meeting. But the players of Pochettino know it: the match against Real Madrid will be another pair of sleeves.