PSG is not invincible, Lens solid runner-up, Lille confirms its recovery

The trip to Brittany had started badly for the Parisians. Their plane was to take off on Saturday evening, but the weather conditions decided otherwise. Mauricio Pochettino’s workforce arrived in Ille-et-Vilaine in small groups, in minibuses and personal cars. Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi were even seen in a convenience store in Yvelines, posing with a smile. The good humor was short-lived for the players of the capital, severely beaten on Sunday, on the lawn of Roazhon Park (2-0).

Rennes was determined not to pose as an expiatory victim in front of the scorers of Manchester City (2-0) in the Champions League, Tuesday, September 28. Bruno Génésio’s players had also played a European match on Thursday, won in Arnhem, the Netherlands (1-2). The two days of recovery less were not felt on the field, even if the Rennes technician made five changes to his starting lineup.

After having contained a generally dominant PSG in the first period, the Red and Black punished their opponents just before the break, on a nice strike from Gaëtan Laborde who cut a center on the left side of the stirring Kamaldeen Sulemana (45^e). This goal was painful for the Parisians, who had not yet returned to the game when Flavien Tait widened the gap, as soon as the restart (46^e), on a pass from Gaëtan Laborde, now Ligue 1 top scorer (six goals).

And the Parisian stars? Lionel Messi hit the bar on a free kick (30^e), and Kylian Mbappé saw a goal that would have reduced the score refused for an offside (68^e). Barely physically, Neymar left his family before the end (76^e).

The triple change made by Mauricio Pochettino in the last quarter of an hour had no impact, and it was even Rennes who could have obtained a penalty for a high foot not obvious from Hakimi on Laborde (84^e). But this was only decided after the referee watched the video.

If Paris remains well ahead of the championship (24 points), with six units ahead of Lens, this first setback of the season confirms the weaknesses already seen in Metz (1-2), on September 22, and against Lyon (2 -1), on September 19, formations against which the PSG forced the decision in the very last seconds of the game. The last setback went back to January 31, 2020, against Lorient (2-1) … already in Brittany.

And besides …

• Lens – Reims (2-0): Revelation last season, with a 7^e placed in the championship, RC Lens confirms that it is more than the hit of a year. The Northerners confirmed their previous victory, in Marseille (2-3), by winning at home against Reims. The Sang et Or are in second place (18 points) and have their best start in the top flight since 2002.
• Montpellier – Strasbourg (1-1): The Mosson stadium looked like a Parc des Princes 2013 version on Saturday afternoon. Ex-captain Mamadou Sakho, recruited this summer in Hérault, made his debut against Strasbourg of Kévin Gameiro, his former teammate at PSG. The match in the match turned to the advantage of the runner-up, who scored the tying goal, taking advantage of the slowness of a still-breaking Sakho. The former Parisians left each other as good friends, with a draw.
• Nice – Brest (2-1): The Aiglons gave the floor to the defense, and easily disposed of Brest, with two goals scored, by Jean-Clair Todibo and the side Melvin Bard. All the goals of the Riviera had so far been scored by attackers or midfielders.
• Lille – Marseille (2-0): The Northerners have a third success in a row, and Marseillle a third game without a win. The LOSC (8^e) is equal on points with his opponent, 5^e with one less game to go.
• And… Angers (4^e), Monaco (6^e) and Nantes (9^e), respectively victorious over Metz (3-2), Bordeaux (3-0) and Troyes (2-0), confirm their good beginnings and settle in the top 10. Lorient and Clermont neutralized themselves (1-1 ).