Paris Saint-Germain – Stade Rennais: Leaders drop points against league’s in form team (1-1)

Stade Rennais were minutes away from holding out for their seventh win in a row in the league before a contentious penalty was awarded to Paris Saint-Germain. Ligue 1’s reigning champions will consider it a point gained as they left the Parc des Princes dominant but second best. 
Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Paris Saint-Germain entered this weekend with a ten-point cushion separating them and their nearest rivals Stade Brestois. Luis Enrique had been able to rotate heavily in the league over the last few weeks as they prioritized their Champions League clash against Real Sociedad. A fact that saw Kylian Mbappé drop to the bench last weekend for their match against FC Nantes. 

Luis Enrique on paper went with a 4-3-3 formation. Gianluigi Donnarumma was in goal, behind a back four of Lucas Hernandez, Lucas Beraldo, Danilo Pereira, and Achraf Hakimi. In midfield, Lee Kang-in, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha. Up front, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé filled out the flanks with Kylian Mbappé as the nominal number nine. 

Julien Stéphan has turned Stade Rennais’s season around after the team began to stall midseason under his replacement and predecessor Bruno Génésio. Since the winter break, Rennes have become a force to be reckoned with in the league and entered this competition as Ligue 1’s inform team. A disappointing exit from the Europa League at the hands of AC Milan could do little to dampen the spirits of the team as they visited the Parc des Princes. 

Rennes went with a 4-4-2 . . .