Rennes Match Highlights: Key Takeaways and Player Performances

Paris Saint-Germain hosted Rennes on Saturday evening at the Parc des Princes for the 15th round of Ligue 1. This match was crucial after PSG’s surprising defeat to Monaco (1-0) in their last league game. Manager Luis Enrique aimed to boost his team’s confidence before their important Champions League match in Bilbao. For this fixture, Enrique set up a 4-3-3 attacking formation with Barcola, Lee, and Kvaratskhelia in attack, supported by João Neves, Vitinha, and Mayulu in midfield. In defense, Safonov took over from Chevalier as goalkeeper, with Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, and Hernández forming the backline. Rennes, on the other hand, fielded a solid 3-5-2 formation, with Le Paul and Embolo leading the attack and Samba in goal. Marc Bollengier was the referee, and the Parc des Princes buzzed with an electric atmosphere decorated with Christmas tifos, balancing the expectations of Parisian fans and the confidence of Rennes, who had won their last four games.

The first half began at a rapid pace, with PSG quickly taking control of the game. In the 26th minute, Pacho intervened decisively to block a dangerous cross from Al-Tamari, forcing Rennes to concede a corner. Moments later, Safonov saved a powerful shot from Rongier (27th) and executed another stunning save against Lepaul (34th). Paris’s dominance resulted in a goal in the 28th: Kvaratskhelia launched a rapid counter, outsmarted Frankowski and Aït Boudlal, and scored a stunning goal from the left side (1-0). PSG continued their onslaught, and in the 39th minute, Barcola set up Neves on the right, who crossed for Mayulu, doubling the lead (2-0). Just before half-time, Lee narrowly missed a third goal from a perfect pass by Barcola (45th). Paris left the pitch with a well-deserved lead, demonstrating their intent to bounce back after the Monaco loss and confidently prepare for their European fixture.

Kvara’s Show

The second half resumed with the same intensity, as PSG maintained constant pressure on Rennes. By the 48th minute, Mayulu was found in the box by Kvaratskhelia and struck powerfully, but Samba managed to deflect the shot onto the crossbar. Shortly after, in the 51st minute, Kvaratskhelia took a shot from the edge of the box, but the Rennes goalkeeper was again impressive in his save. PSG appeared dominant, creating numerous chances, with Barcola especially dangerous as he tried to weave past Brassier but was thwarted yet again by Samba (59th). Rennes struggled to create offensive opportunities and focused on defending against the continuous Parisian attacks, who looked set to secure a methodical victory. Paris’s control paid off in the 67th minute following a fortunate sequence. Brice Samba, attempting to pass to Brassier, had the ball intercepted by Barcola, who then crossed it to Mayulu. The midfielder turned skillfully to assist Kvaratskhelia, who scored his second goal of the night (3-0).

Following this, Paris maintained their grip and continued to threaten, particularly as Barcola accelerated on a counterattack, only to see his attempt once again saved by Samba (74th). The match tipped further in PSG’s favor when Jacquet, already warned, committed a harsh foul on Ramos and received a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal (75th). With Rennes now a man down, they struggled even more to contain the Parisian attacks, and it was only logical when Ibrahim Mbaye, who had just come on, scored the fourth goal (88th). He was followed by supersub Gonçalo Ramos, who added the fifth in stoppage time (90th+1). The Parisian team concluded the match with a commanding 5-0 victory, providing comfort after the Monaco defeat and sending a strong message ahead of their upcoming European match, while Rennes left the Parc des Princes without having genuinely challenged Safonov. In the standings, PSG remains in second place, just one point behind leaders RC Lens, as Rennes drops to sixth, ending their five-match unbeaten streak.

– Player of the Match: Kvaratskhelia (8.5): After some subdued performances lately, the Georgian shone against the Rennes defense, showcasing his ability as a constant threat. He was involved in all of PSG’s offensive moves, scoring a magnificent solo goal and following it up with another early in the second half after a mistake from Samba. A standout match for him, which should restore his confidence. Substituted by G. Ramos in the 71st. The Portuguese managed to score a fantastic goal late in the game.

PSG

Safonov (7.5): Starting in goal on Saturday night, the Russian goalkeeper likely sent a strong message to Lucas Chevalier. He was impressive against the Rennes attackers, making several spectacular saves, including a double save (26th) that led directly to PSG’s opening goal (28th). He made another significant save shortly afterwards (32nd).

– Zaïre-Emery (7.5): Once again positioned as a right-back, the young Parisian talent has been improving, adapting well to the role traditionally held by Achraf Hakimi. In a versatile role, he contributed both defensively and offensively. His speed and exceptional physique allow him to cover spaces effectively and keep up the effort, even against formidable opponent Al-Tamari. Substituted by Ndjantou in the 80th.

– Marquinhos (6): The Brazilian defender, like his Ecuadorian teammate, enjoyed a calm evening against the Rennes attackers. He effectively anticipated threats, cutting off passing lanes and managing Lepaul’s runs. A solid defensive showing from him ensured PSG’s stability.

– Pacho (6): Another consistent performance from the sturdy Ecuadorian defender. He was excellent in physical duels and remained calm within the Paris defense. It was challenging to evaluate his match since he wasn’t tested extensively. He was clean in his interventions, giving little chance to Rennes’ attackers.

– L. Hernandez (6): Filling in for the injured Nuno Mendes, the Frenchman did his job well. While he lacked the offensive impact of his colleague, he excelled defensively, allowing Kvara to shine with complete focus on managing defensive duties against his evening’s opponents.

– Joao Neves (6.5): The young Parisian midfielder returned to his impressive form. After a less impactful match previously, he shone against Rennes, recovering numerous balls and contributing offensively. He provided an excellent cross for PSG’s second goal after overlapping with Barcola. Substituted by Mbaye in the 80th. The Senegalese international scored with a powerful strike for the fourth goal.

– Vitinha (6.5): After a subpar performance last time out, the Portuguese talent really picked up the pace, managing the match tempo effectively. His improvement boosted the team’s overall confidence, aided by a more active João Neves. Substituted by Vitinha in the 71st.

– Mayulu (7): The young Parisian impressed, as did most of his teammates. In the midfield trio, sometimes taking up a second striker role, Mayulu troubled the Rennes defense, scoring just before half-time after a good setup from João Neves. Technically clean, he also assisted Kvara for the third goal.

– Barcola (6.5): In a fluid attacking display, the former Lyon player felt more comfortable, exploiting space to trouble the Rennes defense. However, his finishing lacked at times, missing a couple of chances due to extra touches. He could have ended with at least two goals but played a key role in the final two Parisian goals.

– Lee (6.5): Opting for Lee over Ousmane Dembélé on the right flank, the South Korean performed decently, utilizing the gaps in Rennes’ defense. He showcased good technical quality in tight spaces, delivering a few sharp passes. Substituted by Ousmane Dembélé in the 63rd. Despite some space to exploit in Rennes’ defense, the Ballon d’Or 2025 was somewhat quiet.

– Kvaratskhelia (8.5): As noted above.

Rennes

– Samba (3): Starting for Rennes, Brice Samba had a nightmare against PSG. Helpless against Kvaratskhelia’s opener, which came from a clever dribble past two defenders, he had little chance on the close-range strike by Mayulu (2-0). Although he made some notable saves, like against Mayulu (48th) and Barcola (57th), his ill-timed pass allowed Barcola to intercept it, leading to Kvaratskhelia’s third goal (67th). The closing moments were painful, culminating in a powerful strike from Mbaye (88th) and Ramos’s final goal (90th), sealing a dismal 5-0 defeat for the team.

– Brassier (3.5): Positioned on the left of defense, Brassier showed some solidity in the first half, notably repelling two Parisian crosses (24th). However, he struggled to initiate back passes and faced complications against Barcola. Unfortunately, he lost his footing when Samba made a poor pass, allowing Barcola to race past him, leading to Kvaratskhelia’s goal (3-0). He did manage to block a point-blank shot from Mbaye late on (89th).

– Jacquet (4): Positioned centrally in the defense, Jacquet had a quiet first half without facing stern challenges. While he positioned well and tracked runs, he couldn’t stop the quick goals from PSG. He received a yellow card for a foul on Lee (52nd) and was later dismissed for a reckless tackle on Ramos (74th), a warranted red card.

– Aït Boudlal (4): Slightly passive during Kvaratskhelia’s opener, Aït Boudlal quickly redeemed himself by robbing the Georgian just minutes later. However, he faltered on the second PSG goal, being caught out of position against Mayulu. His performance was inconsistent, and he was cautioned (74th).

– Frankowski (3.5): Playing as a right wingback, he attempted a volley seconds into the game, but it went wide. Defensively, he struggled, allowing Kvaratskhelia to score without resistance. He had difficulty containing Kvaratskhelia throughout and missed a key pass after a promising buildup (51st).

– Al Tamari (3.5): Operating from the left wing in Rennes’ setup, he made numerous runs early on but was kept in check by Zaïre-Emery. While he attempted to contribute offensively, he was effectively neutralized and was substituted by Legendre in the 82nd.

– Cissé (3.5): Supporting Brassier on the left, he struggled defensively, particularly against Barcola. Despite being active early, he found it tough to make effective interventions. Overall, a mediocre performance, with no major errors. He was substituted by Merlin (4) at half-time.

– Camara (4): Played centrally alongside Cissé and Rongier, his ball recovery efforts were vital. However, he struggled under PSG’s persistent pressing. As the match progressed, Rennes faltered, and he was substituted by Blas (82nd).

– Rongier (4.5): The captain struggled to impact the game after scoring in the previous match. He attempted a powerful shot (33rd) but was saved easily. He largely faded into the second half alongside his teammates, managing to intercept a cross late on (85th).

– Lepaul (4.5): After scoring seven goals this season, he started alongside Embolo. He nearly scored in the 26th minute with a powerful shot, but Safonov denied him. Though he sought to create chances, he could not capitalize in the second half. He was substituted by Rouault in the 76th.

– Embolo (4): The Swiss forward faced challenges against Pacho most of the match. While he drew a foul early, he generally remained quiet and struggled to impact the PSG defense, ultimately being substituted by Meïté in the 82nd.