Rennes stun PSG to give Lens hope of retaking top spot

Stade Rennais stunned Paris Saint-Germain, bouncing back from three consecutive defeats in Ligue 1 McDonald's to prevent the reigning champions from extending their lead at the top (3-1).

Chances galore in the first 45

In front of Sébastien Tambouret, in interim charge of the Breton club, Rennes began brightly and hit the post early on through Esteban Lepaul (6'). It was the first of many chances over the course of an exciting first half at Roazhon Park.

There were notably spaces to exploit in behind both defences. Those possibilities were better exploited by Les Rennais than the reigning Ligue 1 McDonald's champions. Against his former club, Désiré Doué was released in behind, but bearing down on goal, he opted for the lob on the returning Brice Samba, who telegraphed his compatriots' intentions and made the catch at the second time of asking (12').

Safonov then had to make two key stops in quick succession, firstly from Quentin Merlin and then from Moussa Al-Tamari. The Russian was up quickly to make the save from the latter (32'). PSG almost benefited from his saves to take the lead moments later, with Samba once again called into action, this time by Ousmane Dembélé from range (33').

RENNES 3-1 PSG 😮‍💨

Breel Embolo scores in the final 10 minutes 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/P79HfvDQtG
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 13, 2026

From a near identical position, Tamari then opened the scoring at the opposite end. The Jordan international once again benefitted from space in behind, this time behind Nuno Mendes. With the Portugal international eliminated, he bore down on Willian Pacho, working a yard of space and driving a left-footed effort into the bottom corner of Safonov's goal (34').

The home side then had a glorious chance to double their advantage seconds after the return from the dressing room. It was an error from Illia Zabarnyi that allowed Arnaud Nordin to close in on goal, but squeezed towards the right-hand side of the PSG box, he couldn't hit the target (46').

But Rennes would double their advantage and the goal would come from Ligue 1 McDonald's most prolific goalscorers over the past 12 months. Lepaul rose highest from a corner, planting his header in the far corner of Safonov's goal, with the Russian completely planted to the spot (69').

Rennes hit PSG with sucker-punch

PSG had a mountain to climb to come from two goals down and salvage something from the game, but they reacted impeccably, with Dembélé finding space in the Rennes box to flick a header past Samba and halve the deficit (71').

The Ballon d'Or winner ceded his place just moments later, replaced by PSG's clutch player, Goncalo Ramos. And he had a glorious chance to level the tie, but his first shot was excellently saved, and then he made himself big to stop the follow-up (77').

PSG were purring though, and Bradley Bacola in particular was hard to contain, the former Lyon winger going close, having driven into the box before seeing his curled effort deflected wide of Samba's goal (79').

It was clear that PSG were in the ascendancy, but spaces were left in behind as they pushed for an equaliser, and a turnover in possession left Rennes with a handy numerical advantage on the break, and one that they exploited. The ball would eventually come to Ludovic Blas, who would play the ball across goal for Breel Embolo to bundle home (81'). Barcola would test Samba again in injury-time (90+2'), but the France international would not be beaten again, as Rennes secured a vital confidence-boosting win.

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