Paris hit hard in Rennes

In the whirlwind of an overloaded schedule, our Parisians headed west. The declared black horses in this championship, Stade Rennais, awaited our Rouge et Bleu with great determination. Luis Enrique had concocted an attractive starting XI, with Vitinha taking his place alongside Manu Ugarte and Warren Zaïre-Emery in midfield. Up front, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos formed a menacing front three.

As is so often the case at an electric Roazhon Park, it was a great battle against a daring Breton side spurred on by their fans. The tactical balance of power was clear from the outset, with each team seeking to take possession of the ball and impose their own rules on the match, while at the same time pouncing on quick attacks when the lines were stretched. The result was an open and enjoyable first half, with the sides going blow for blow as action ranged from one end of the field to the other.

Against this backdrop, Les Rouge et Bleu were expecting some turbulence. But they showed great defensive steel to resist Rennes' early onslaughts. And when the home side did manage to find the target, notably through former Parisian youth star Arnaud Kalimuendo, Gigio Donnarumma was impeccable off his line (6'). The Parisians gradually built up their momentum, and it was on the half-hour mark that the match started to turn. From a move initiated by Ousmane Dembélé at full clip, Vitinha, who had been found on the edge of the area by the World Cup winner, unleashed a marvellous curling shot that found the top corner of Mandanda's net (0-1, 32').

The goal was the reward for all the hard work put in by Luis Enrique's men. What's more, Les Rouge et Bleu even managed to make the break in the ensuing minutes to make the most of this golden moment! Launched like a high-speed train into the box, Achraf Hakimi latched onto Warren Zaïre-Emery's pinpoint pass to double the lead with a subtle downward header (0-2, 36'). Paris' well-oiled attacking machine was sending shivers down spines in the Breton penalty area - especially since the indefatigable Kylian Mbappé, who was playing his 400th professional match - at just 24 years of age - never ceased to threaten with his runs or his through balls. Had it not been for Mandanda, Paris' top scorer would have found the back of the net (45').

Stung into action, the Bretons came out of the locker room and piled on the pressure. And although Rennes managed to pull a goal back through a Gouiri header (1-2, 56'), the Parisians regained their composure instantly when Randal Kolo Muani, who had just come on for Gonçalo Ramos, effortlessly converted a perfect cross from Achraf Hakimi (1-3, 58'). Highly successful coaching for Luis Enrique - and an ideal set-up for the Parisians, who managed their advantage intelligently throughout a tough and intense final half-hour. Their tactical mettle was complemented by an exemplary mentality and great team spirit led by captain Marquinhos, who on Sunday equalled Marco Verratti as the club's most-capped player in all competitions by playing his 416th match for Paris Saint-Germain.

In a match of the highest calibre, Paris Saint-Germain, now in third place, picked up a valuable win ahead of an international break that will see Les Rouge et Bleu travel to the four corners of the globe. The next chapters will be written at the Parc des Princes, with two matches scheduled in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League, against Strasbourg and AC Milan. The dates are set.