3 Paris Saint Germain vs 1 Rennes
Table-topping PSG take on Rennes in Friday's Ligue 1 opener.
After a gripping draw with Reims halted their winning streak, PSG look to reclaim their dominant form against Rennes this Friday at Parc des Princes, with kickoff at 20:00 [GMT+1].
Paris Saint Germain
PSG saw their perfect start to the season come to an end after salvaging a point in a 1-1 draw against Reims last time out. Reims were rewarded for their early bravery after a goal from Keito Nakamura left them in the lead inside the first ten minutes.
However, after several clear-cut chances went begging, Ousmane Dembélé came off the bench for the leveller, guiding the ball into the back of the net from a difficult angle. The draw helped the champions remain unbeaten in 27 away games.
PSG remained at the top of the table thanks to a more favorable goal difference despite having 13 points, along with 2nd-placed Marseille and 3rd-placed Monaco. Friday’s clash would serve as a fine opportunity to put some points between themselves and the duo in pursuit.
While PSG have won 58% of their Ligue 1 games against Rennes in the QSI era, their remarkable form has seen them lose twice since the start of last season. A win here would leave PSG with a three-game winning run on home soil, having won their two home matches this season in Ligue 1.
Last weekend’s hero, Ousmane Dembélé, is expected to get in from the get-go, having come off the bench last time out. The Frenchman will team up with Randal Kolo Muani and Bradley Barcola in attack when Luis Enrique deploys the 4-3-3.
Marco Asensio is ruled out for a few weeks along with two others due to a muscle injury. PSG will undoubtedly aim to maintain their dominant form despite these setbacks.
Rennes
Just like PSG, Friday’s opponents, Rennes, also earned a point in a 1-1 draw against Lens. The draw left Rennes in 8th place with 7 points, but Friday’s clash will offer the visitors a chance to climb as high as 4th place temporarily.
While returning to winning ways remains the objective, Rennes could suffer three defeats away from home in a row for the first time since 2005-06, having lost to Strasbourg and Reims on the road this season. A strong defensive performance will be crucial to prevent this unwanted streak.
A 3-4-2-1 formation with Arnaud Kalimuendo, who scored from the penalty spot against Lens, is expected in attack. New signing Jota picked up a muscle injury just before the game against Lens and remains ruled out for the foreseeable future along with Carlos Andres Gomez.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.