PARIS: Kylian Mbappe returned from his post-World Cup break but Paris Saint-Germain fell 1-0 to Stade Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, leaving them just three points clear at the top of the table at the halfway point. Left behind by points. Weather.
Rennes, who won a club-record ninth successive home game in the top flight, secured victory thanks to a second-half goal from Hamari Traore as the visitors suffered their second loss in three league matches.
PSG have 47 points from 19 games, while second-placed RC Lens are on 44, with Olympique de Marseille two points further back in third.
Despite the win, Rennes dropped to fifth on 37 points, behind Monaco on goal difference, after the principality side demolished AC Ajaccio 7-1 with a Wissam Ben Yedder hat-trick.
“I’m disappointed with our performance because we conceded a lot of chances and didn’t create anything,” said PSG coach Christophe Gaultier, who opted to leave Mbappe on the bench after kicking a “penalty”. “Complete absence of presence in the box,” he complained. Close.
It was the first time since PSG’s superstar attacking trio returned from the World Cup that Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar appeared on the pitch together.
Messi faces an extended holiday after guiding Argentina to glory in Doha and scoring a comeback goal in a 2-0 win over Angers in midweek.
Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick for France in the World Cup final when they lost on penalties to Argentina, played his club’s first two games after the tournament and did not play their last two matches as he made the squad. Had a holiday in New York with colleague Achraf. Hakimi
Hugo Ikitek started alongside Messi and Neymar. Mbappe replaced Ekitike in the 56th minute but Rennes soon went ahead when their Malian right-back Trevor swept in a cut-back from Adrien Traffert in the 65th minute.
PSG’s Juan Bernat tipped Steve Mendanda’s half-volley over the bar in the 81st before the capital side threw everything at Rennes for naught.
