Gaëtan Laborde and Flavien Tait scored the goals as Rennes ended Ligue 1 Uber Eats leaders Paris Saint-Germain's 100% record, scoring a 2-0 victory at a jubilant Roazhon Park.
THE MATCH
Paris Saint-Germain failed to manage a single attempt on target and failed to capitalise on a strong 20 minutes prior to Laborde opening the scoring on the stroke of half-time, spurning four clear chances. Rennes shaded the first 20 minutes, with Laborde having the first effort on target (10') but then had to withstand a PSG onslaught.
Neymar (23') and Kylian Mbappé (25') both had opportunities before Lionel Messi struck the crossbar with a magnificent free-kick (31'). Messi is still looking for his first Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal after opening his PSG account in the Champions League in Tuesday's win over Manchester City.
Rennes made the breakthrough (45') when Kamaldeen Sulemana crossed from the left and Laborde ghosted in behind Nuno Mendes to volley past Gianluigi Donnarumma, retained in goal after starring against City in midweek. Rennes caught PSG cold at the start of the second half, scoring (46') through Tait. The midfielder's run wasn't tracked and he was picked out by Laborde.
Mbappé (68') expertly picked out the bottom corner of Alfred Gomis' goal but the strike was ruled out on a VAR review for offside. Rennes were awarded a penalty (82') by Ruddy Buquet for an Achraf Hakimi challenge on Laborde, only for VAR evidence to see that decision overturned.
Thomas Tuchel's PSG won 14 straight games at the start of the 2018-2019 season and Mauricio Pochettino's team will not be matching that. Rennes followed up their Europa Conference League victory against Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday with their best performance of the season and look to have turned the corner.
THE PLAYER: Gaëtan Laborde
Laborde cost 15 million euros from Montpellier late in the transfer window and that fee already looks to be a bargain. At Rennes, Laborde has carried on where he left off at Montpellier. Having netted three league goals for his previous employers before the move, Laborde has already plundered three in his new colours. Against PSG he tormented the visiting defence with his work-rate and added an assist to his goal.
THE STAT: 4
Bruno Genesio has won four Ligue 1 matches as a coach against Paris Saint-Germain, three of them with Olympique Lyonnais and one with Rennes. No coach has beaten PSG more since the Qatari takeover in 2011.
