The Frenchman PSG – Marcus Rashford, the huge crush of PSG for the post-Mbappé”>Kylian Mbappe, with a goal in added time, broke the tedium that presided over the Parc des Princes throughout the Ligue 1 match against Rennes to seal a new victory, the fourth in a row (1-0), before hosting Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Pochettino’s team did not need more, which gave the impression of thinking more about Tuesday, in the continental event, than in an apparently irrelevant commitment in a tournament that is more than on track. He is sixteen points ahead of Marseille, second in the standings.
PSG did not press the accelerator in any case, which faced the duel with Bruno Genesio’s team as a formality, which arrived in Paris with five defeats in its last eight games. And that Mauricio Pochettino did not save anything for the visit of Rennes, a irregular team looking for a place in Europe. The Argentine coach faced the clash at the Parc des Princes with all the available arsenal. Without rest for Leo Messi or for Kylian Mbappe despite the thirteen points of rent with respect to his pursuer in a Ligue 1 that is not going to escape him.
He was only cautious with Ángel Di María and the Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum with physical discomfort throughout the week and who only played the last half hour. As for Sergio Ramos and Neymar, they stayed in the stands. They are not ready yet.
Pochettino, who chose the Costa Rican Keylor Navas as his starting goal instead of the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, faced the match against Rennes with the following eleven: Keylor Navas; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Presnet Kimpembe, Juan Bernat; Julian Draxler, Leandro Paredes, Marco Verratti; Xavi Simons, Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Tedium invaded much of the first half. With PSG as dominator but without rhythm. With peace of mind. No gaps and predictable. The first big chance, in fact, was for Bruno Genesio’s team in a Baptiste Santamaría header after a corner that narrowly missed.
Mbappe and Messi offered their first signs just before intermission. Each one had an opportunity and the Frenchman also shot at the post in the 40th minute.
The scene did not change afterwards, although fatigue affected the visitors and Pochettino’s team found more space. That’s where you feel comfortable. However, he was able to score Rennes on another Gaetan Laborde aerial ball. Mbappe was the main Parisian asset. A start of his had a bad definition. He also scored, at game time, after a great pass from Messi, but the goal was annulled for offside.
Di María and Wijnaldun came onto the field to play the last twenty-five minutes. The match opened at the end. The goal came when the clash seemed doomed to draw. In a talent action by Mbappe in added time. He received a cross from Messi and his cross shot past Dogan Alemdar. The leader who now awaits the serious clash against Real Madrid did not need more.
