PSG Demolish Rennes in Five-Star Paris Show
Paris Saint-Germain delivered a ruthless display at the Parc des Princes, thrashing Rennes 5-0 to keep the pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Lens after a dominant night driven by a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia masterclass.
Paris Saint-Germain turned on the style on Saturday night, blowing Rennes away 5-0 in a one-sided Ligue 1 encounter that underlined their attacking depth and growing momentum. From the moment they settled after a shaky opening, the champions barely looked back.
Rennes had the first warning when Matvey Safonov was forced into a sharp early save, but PSG responded with authority. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute courtesy of a moment of pure quality from Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian burst forward from halfway, shrugged off challenges and curled a precise finish into the bottom corner to ignite the Paris crowd.
PSG tightened their grip before the break with a beautifully worked second goal. A slick exchange down the right opened space for Joao Neves to cut the ball back, allowing teenage midfielder Senny Mayulu to arrive calmly and finish from close range for 2-0 at half-time.
Any hope of a Rennes response disappeared early in the second half. PSG dominated possession, pressed aggressively and created chance after chance. Kvaratskhelia struck again in the 67th minute, capitalising on a costly mistake while Rennes attempted to play out from the back, smashing his finish into the roof of the net to make it 3-0.
The match slipped further away from the visitors after Jeremy Jacquet was sent off for a late challenge, leaving Rennes with ten men and little resistance. PSG took full advantage. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, just 17 years old, announced himself in stunning fashion with a wonderful long-range strike into the far corner in the 88th minute.
There was still time for one more flourish. Goncalo Ramos joined the party in stoppage time, bending a left-footed effort from outside the area beyond Brice Samba to complete a comprehensive five-goal rout.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, PSGs expected goals stood at 2.01, a reflection of the number of long-range finishes that flew in. Rennes, meanwhile, managed just 0.16 xG on a bruising night in Paris.
The result keeps PSG second in Ligue 1, just a point behind Lens, as they turn their focus to an upcoming Champions League trip before returning to domestic duty. Rennes slip to sixth and will be searching for a response in their next outing.
On this evidence, PSG are finding both rhythm and ruthlessness at exactly the right time.
