PSG Seeks Rebound Against Rennes Before Crucial Liverpool Clash

Posted : 07 March 2025

Paris Saint-Germain will seek to restore confidence when they travel to Rennes in Ligue 1 before turning their focus to a challenging Champions League second-leg clash against Liverpool. The French champions were dominant in their 1-0 home defeat in the first leg, controlling 65 percent possession and registering 28 attempts on goal compared to Liverpool’s two.

Despite their attacking pressure, they were repeatedly denied by an inspired Alisson Becker, whose exceptional goalkeeping—including a remarkable late save from Désiré Doué—kept them at bay. A marginal offside decision also saw Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s first-half goal ruled out, adding to PSG’s frustration.

The loss to Liverpool snapped PSG’s impressive 10-game winning streak, during which they had scored 40 goals, and ended their 22-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Now, they face the daunting task of winning at Anfield to avoid an early Champions League exit, having fallen in the last 16 in six of the past nine seasons.

However, coach Luis Enrique remained defiant after the match, calling the result "unfair" and crediting Liverpool’s victory to Alisson’s heroics rather than any tactical superiority. He insisted that PSG controlled the game and forced their opponents into a defensive approach, suggesting they were the better team despite the defeat.

Before their trip to England, PSG will aim to maintain their unbeaten domestic record when they face a resurgent Rennes side under new coach Habib Beye. The Parisians are cruising toward their 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 seasons, holding a commanding 13-point lead over second-placed Marseille.

While PSG have not lost a league away match in over two years, Rennes have found form under Beye, winning four of their last five matches. The former Marseille and Newcastle defender acknowledged PSG’s quality but urged his team to approach the game with ambition rather than resignation.

One player to watch this weekend is Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha, who has been instrumental in his team's unexpected push for European qualification. While Strasbourg’s defensive solidity—conceding just five goals in their last 11 league games—has been crucial, the 22-year-old Dutch forward has also played a key role.

A former Sturm Graz player like Monaco’s rising star Mika Biereth, Emegha has scored eight goals in his last nine Ligue 1 appearances. His absence has been costly for Strasbourg, with four of their seven league defeats coming when he was sidelined. As the season progresses, his contributions could be decisive in their bid for a European spot.

PSG Seeks Rebound Against Rennes Before Crucial Liverpool Clash

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