Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Stade Rennais: A Stroke of PS-Genius Separates Sides
- Connor Gordon
- Jan 31, 2015
- 3 min read
A quality piece of team-play between the PSG attackers was enough to settle the tough battle against Stade Rennais.
Pre-match, all eyes were on the champions as they have a less than impressive record in recent times against the Bretons. PSG had won one game in the past 7 encounters between the two, with the first meeting being a 1-1 draw at the Route de Lorient.
Rennes thought they could have continued being a nuisance to their opponents from the start, as Abdoulaye Doucoure was unlucky to meet a Pedro Henrique lobbed pass whilst in space up top.
Philippe Montanier wouldn't have been disappointed with his men in the opening stages of the match as his side edged possession at 52% and PSG weren't threatening his defensive line.
However, it took time for PSG to rise up the gears to play their familiar style that every Ligue 1 fan has been used to. Left-back, Lucas Digne tried his best to get a dangerous move started as he made his way into the box to execute a low cross to Pastore, but Costil managed to scoop before any connection could be made.
Nevertheless, Rennes still pushed to go in front- Doucoure charging towards the danger area tried to play assister as he thought Ntep was in a better position in the box. However, the pass was blocked and rolled out to Fallou Diagne who took a pot shot which went well wide of the target.
PSG would have felt a bit more comfortable as Lavezzi notched home from close range after 29 minutes following impressive Tiki-Taka football from the champions. Zlatan Ibrahimovic got the move started when he passed to Adrien Rabiot who was hovering outside the box; the 19 year old played a sublime curled chip into the box which Pastore met to cut across goal with Lavezzi then given the easy job to finish.
Pastore could have played assister moments later but this time for Rennes as his backpass was picked up by Doucoure who found himself one-on-one with Sirigu. The Rennes fans wouldn't have been surprised when they saw the comically unclinical midfielder hit straight into the midriff of Sirigu.
Digne got himself in a more advanced position in the wide areas and could have made a goal for Ibrahimovic. The Swede connected with Digne's cross but the direction that the veteran striker put on the ball was wayward and his shot evaded Costil's goal.
In the second half PSG tried to tighten the noose around Rennes throat. Marquinhos found himself in acres of space down the right-wing.The Brazilian swung an attractive ball into the path of Cavani, but the Uruguayan forward opted not to leap at the ball, claiming that the ball swerved in mid-air.
Cavani was in the thick of the next attack as he was played through on goal like a hot knife through butter, as the Rennes defence hopless to stop the pass. Costil produced save of the match when he palmed away the frustrated wide-man's effort.
PSG's biggest scare of the match came as a result of a solo run by Brazilian winger, Pedro Henrique. The Rennes man took the ball from his own half and sidestepped any defender to get into the box. Sloppy decision making at the last had Henrique opting to try and pass to Ntep in space rather than shoot, but this was blocked and cleared.
Pastore teed up Cavani on a plate when he volleyed a ball across goal which struck his target on the chest and drifted out for a corner. This was to be Cavani's last involvement in the match as he was replaced by Lucas Moura to an onsllaught of boos by the Paris faithful.
Pedro Henrique got Sirigu's gloves dirty when he smashed a ball towards the Italian stopper, following Doucoure's weighted pass. Next, Steven Moreira aimed a teasing ball into the front post which Habib Habibou was unfortunate not to connect with. Montanier's men left it too late to be playing the better football of the two sides, with PSG playing the last moments of the match in safety.
Next up for PSG is Lille in the Coupe de la Ligue, whereas Rennes play title chasers, Marseille, in league action.
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