THE MATCH

Three points and no injuries was the target for Paris Saint-Germain on Friday night - just four days before the crunch Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Mauricio Pochettino's strong team selection suggested that his attention was purely on Bruno Genesio's men, who themselves were looking to complete a double over the league leaders. 

Sporting their new Real Madrid-esque white fourth kit, PSG were unable to pick up from where they left off in Sunday's 5-1 thrashing of champions LOSC, instead displaying a laboured opening to the encounter.

Xavi Simons was handed his first PSG start in Ligue 1 Uber Eats and the 18-year-old Dutchman was lively on the right side of a three-pronged attack alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Rennes themselves looked menacing on the counter early on with Croatia international Lovro Majer in the thick of the action and it was good work from the former Dinamo Zagreb man that led to the visitors first chance on goal, when the unmarked Baptiste Santamaria headed fractionally wide from a corner (14').

Frustration

As the half wore on, PSG began to dominate possession but lacked intensity and any real goalmouth threat to the frustration of the Parc des Princes faithful.

Messi and Mbappé slowly began to come to life with some nice touches and turns as PSG tried but failed to penetrate a well-drilled and compact Rennes back line.

With little goal mouth action of note at either end, the game suddenly sprung into life and PSG finally had their first meaningful attempt on goal when Mbappé sent a curling effort from the edge of the area inches wide of Dogan Alemdar's left-hand post (35').

Mbappé was finding his groove and he was at it again just six-minutes later but this time his effort struck the upright with Simons' rebound blocked by a resolute Rennes defence (41').

Jeered off by a dissatisfied home crowd at Half-time, PSG began the second half with a renewed purpose culminating with the return of the club's vibrant Ultra's who had staged a silent first-half protest.

But it was Rennes that went close to breaking the deadlock when Gaëtan Laborde's header just missed the target for Rennes (57').

Mbappé then squandered a chance for PSG when he sliced his angled effort wide, with just Alemdar to beat (62'). A minute later the Frenchman finally had the ball in the net but was later denied by the offside flag.

Pochettino sent on Gini Wijnaldum and Angel Di Maria with 25 minutes left to try to help get his side over the line but neither player made any immediate impact.

Mbappé wins it

With time running out and with Rennes seemingly happy to leave the capital with a hard-earned point, PSG countered and grabbed themselves a dramatic 93rd minute winner, when Messi played in Mbappé to fire home the winner, extending the Parisian's lead at the top of the table to a provisional 16 points.

THE PLAYER: KYLIAN MBAPPÉ

Kylian Mbappé was once again the man to dig PSG out of a hole and send the Parc des Princes crowd home happy. The 23-year-old has now scored 12 league goals this season and looks in fine shape to take on Real Madrid on Tuesday.

THE STAT: 11

Paris Saint-Germain's win against Rennes means the capital club have won 11 out of their 12 home league games this season, with OGC Nice the only team to take a point at the Parc des Princes.

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