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Rennes secure European dream in Paris

Rennes secure European dream in Paris

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Publish on 05/12 at 00:00 - S. WILLIS

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Stade Rennais FC will play European football next season after Benjamin Bourigeaud (pen. 52') and Adrien Hunu (71') gave them a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Unai Emery's final home game as the champions' coach.

Logo Paris Saint-Germain Paris Saint-Germain 0-2 Stade Rennais FC 

THE MATCH

PSG started well in Emery's final game in front of the Parc des Princes support and gave Rennes an early warning with Angel Di Maria's shot beating Tomas Koubek in the visiting goal before sailing agonisingly along the goal-line (10'). Rennes knew a rare victory in the capital would ensure a first European season since the 2011-12 season, though, and they mounted plenty of attacks of their own, with Joris Gnagnon's volley forcing Marquinhos into a brave block (21'). Christopher Nkunku then had a gilt-edge chance to put PSG ahead, but Koubek did well to deny him when one-on-one (26'). Lassana Diarra found Di Maria with the half drawing to a close and the Argentine selflessly crossed for Kylian Mbappé, but the former AS Monaco man's volley flew off-target (44') and the sides went into the break with the deadlock still intact.

Rennes run away with it

The second half was just seven minutes old when it was broken, though. Presnel Kimpembe was booked for bringing down Benjamin André in the PSG area, and namesake Bourigeaud stepped up to convert the resulting penalty (52'). Emery rang the changes soon after, with Julian Draxler and Adrien Rabiot coming on for Nkunku and Diarra (61') and Giovanni Lo Celso was unlucky to see a penalty claim waved away by referee Jérôme Brisard soon after (65'), but Rennes had the wind in their sails and they doubled their advantage thanks to Hunou, who held off Kimpembe before smashing his shot beyond Kevin Trapp (71'). Koubek denied Javier Pastore twice late on (83', 85') and Rennes held on for their first win in Paris since May 2014.

THE PLAYER: Adrien Hunou

Hunou scored a headline-grabbing goal, but it was nothing that his hard work didn't deserve. The former France youth international career has plateaued in recent seasons, and he even found himself training with the reserves for part of this campaign, but he was outstanding at the Parc des Princes, completing 100 percent of his passes in the final third to complement his stunning goal.

THE STAT: 42

This was PSG's first home defeat in Ligue 1 Conforama in 42 matches - a club record. The last time the seven-time French champions lost in the capital was to Monaco, who beat them 2-0 back in March 2016.