Paris St Germain continued its dominant run in Ligue 1 with a commanding 4-1 victory against Stade Rennais on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Ousmane Dembele showcased his extraordinary talent, scoring twice during added time, helping his team secure their sixth consecutive win.
The triumph marks another milestone for PSG as they bolster their position atop the league standings with 65 points, maintaining a 16-point lead over their closest rivals, Olympique de Marseille, who are set to play Lens later today. Meanwhile, Stade Rennais remains at 11th place, gathering 29 points.
Under the stewardship of manager Luis Enrique, PSG made substantial changes to their lineup following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Liverpool earlier this week, where they struggled to find rhythm during the first leg of their Champions League tie. Enrique opted for eight alterations, intending to refresh the squad against Rennes.
Despite having made changes, PSG quickly gained control of the match, but it took them until the 27th minute to break the deadlock. Following a well-placed free kick from Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola demonstrated great awareness to find space behind the Rennes defense, sliding the ball through goalkeeper Brice Samba's legs for the opening goal.
Encouraged by the goal, Rennes attempted to respond immediately, with Ludovic Blas nearly equalizing as he narrowly missed the post and Mohamed Kader Meite hitting the crossbar just before halftime. Nonetheless, it was PSG which struck again early in the second half, doubling their lead five minutes after the restart. Barcola turned provider this time, delivering a cross to Goncalo Ramos, who made no mistake, directing the ball home from close range.
Rennes, refusing to back down, put forth considerable effort and were rewarded with a goal of their own shortly after. Lilian Brassier found the back of the net by converting from Jeremy Jacquet's flick-on from the corner taken by Blas, reducing PSG's lead to 2-1 and igniting hope among the home supporters.
Responding proactively, Luis Enrique brought fresh legs onto the pitch by substituting prominent players, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, and Dembele, aiming to re-establish dominance. Rennes, undeterred, continued to press for opportunities, but failed to capitalize on multiple promising chances to level the score.
Enter Ousmane Dembele, who had been waiting on the sidelines to make his impact felt. Initially, he squandered an opportunity but quickly redeemed himself by scoring two goals within the dying moments of the match. The French international first tapped the ball home from an Achraf Hakimi assist before drilling another shot from the edge of the area, marking his 20th league goal of the season.
Dembele's performance, particularly noteworthy for the timing, not only solidified PSG's victory but also served as excellent buildup for their upcoming Champions League return leg against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, March 11, where they will aim to overturn their first-leg deficit.
Throughout the match, it was evident just how PSG's team dynamics and squad depth have played pivotal roles this season, allowing them to remain unbeaten and unyielding as they pursue their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title.
With the club’s ambitious targets set high both domestically and across Europe, PSG’s impressive display against Rennes paints them as serious contenders not just for the league title but also as they aim for Champions League glory.