PSG’s hopes of unbeaten Ligue 1 season ended by Rennes as star-studded attack fails to register shot on goal

Paris Saint-Germain’s hopes of a first-ever unbeaten season below Qatari possession in addition to their 100% successful report in Ligue 1 this season ended abruptly on Sunday with a 2-0 loss away at Stade Rennais, who proceed their very own effective report towards the capital membership.

Having overwhelmed Manchester Metropolis within the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Mauricio Pochettino despatched out his huge weapons as soon as once more at Roazhon Park within the hope of the same efficiency earlier than the worldwide break.

Nonetheless, the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria, and Gianluigi Donnarumma contrived to concede all sides of half time and most worryingly, didn’t even register a shot on course in Brittany as PSG didn’t win for the primary time in 9 Ligue 1 matches this season.

Gaetan Laborde opened the scoring on the stroke of the break whereas Flavien Tait swiftly added a second simply moments after the restart in a match PSG appeared to sleepwalk by way of having been pressured to journey by minibus and automobile to the match due to this weekend’s climate.

It was a return to the shape we now have seen just about all season lengthy from Les Parisiens with a lot star expertise on the pitch that Pochettino seems at a loss to work out a purposeful system for them to play effectively collectively.

Messi, Mbappe, Neymar and Di Maria may barely muster an effort on objective collectively though the legendary Argentine did rattle the crossbar with a free kick which is quickly changing into a trademark transfer since his PSG change and the Frenchman additionally had a objective disallowed by VAR.

“We conceded two targets at key moments within the match,” captain Marquinhos instructed Amazon Prime Video after the ultimate whistle. “These are vital moments once you have to be extra centered and never conceded this kind of objective. That stated, once you path in a recreation, you have to be extra proactive than we have been.”

It’s not so simple as that attacking lineup and anticipating targets, although, when the group are unexpectedly leaky on the different finish with this the third event throughout all competitions the place the French giants have shipped two or extra in a recreation.

Laborde and Tait’s efforts have been largely attainable due to a collective switch-off throughout the visiting ranks and the midfield pairing of Verratti and Gueye lurched from being match successful towards Metropolis to trying as if they’d by no means performed collectively right here.

It ought to be famous that Di Maria was added to the combo after the Metropolis victory as he’s presently suspended in European competitions however PSG’s underwhelming efficiency shouldn’t take away from what was a effective group effort from Bruno Genesio’s males.

Genesio — affectionately recognized in France as Pep — is growing a behavior with Olympique Lyonnais and now Rennes of manufacturing good performances and outcomes to match towards the French capital membership whereas he additionally managed to shock Guardiola himself whileat Lyon.

Genesio managed to get well his gamers after their UEFA Europa Convention League exploits within the Netherlands away at Vitesse Arnhem on Thursday and so they produced a ruthlessly environment friendly exhibiting to poke holes in a Parisien backline which Metropolis have been unable to do on Tuesday.

The fact of the home scenario is that PSG stay six factors clear on the Ligue 1 summit with RC Lens their closest challengers at current however this kind of end result, honestly, had been coming for a while and it’s only stunning that it didn’t occur in Europe first.

PSG’s hopes of an unbeaten marketing campaign, no matter it would imply to the gamers, employees, and management, is now gone for one more 12 months and whereas which may not be the top of the world, it’s additional proof of the truth that they aren’t as dominant domestically as many assume or make out that they’re.

The report set by the nice FC Nantes aspect of 1994-95 remains to be secure and can stay up to now one other season at the very least however it’s one thing which actually felt attainable for PSG to realize this time period and if this Rennes defeat seems to make the distinction, they are going to be kicking themselves.