Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain in Fine Form at Home – Can Rennes Escape Unscathed?

On September 27th at 3:00 AM, the 6th round of the 24/25 Ligue 1 season will see Paris Saint-Germain host Rennes at the Parc des Princes.

Paris Saint-Germain has undergone significant changes during the summer transfer window, with top scorer Kylian Mbappé leaving upon the expiration of his contract to join La Liga giants Real Madrid. The team quickly brought in young talents like Douai, João Neves, William Pacho, and Safonov in the transfer market, moving away from the so-called superstar strategy.

Under Enrique’s guidance, the underdog Paris Saint-Germain has indeed achieved impressive results, winning their first four league games, scoring a total of 16 goals. In their first Champions League game, they secured a 1-0 victory over La Liga dark horse Girona, achieving five consecutive wins. However, in the last away match against Reims, Paris Saint-Germain seemed a bit off, relying on Dembélé to salvage a 1-1 draw.

After Mbappé’s departure, the biggest benefit for the team is that the offensive firepower is more dispersed. The 27-year-old Dembélé has scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in 6 games, averaging one goal contribution per game. Balkola has scored 4 goals in 6 games, while Mouani has netted twice. Asensio, playing as a false nine, has also contributed with 1 goal and 2 assists, showing a comprehensive offensive front, making it harder for opponents to mark players.

In addition, Paris Saint-Germain’s defense has been solid, conceding only 4 goals in the first 5 rounds, second only to Monaco who conceded 2 goals, ranking second in Ligue 1. However, Paris Saint-Germain is also under pressure, as Marseille and Monaco have both won 4 and drawn 1, earning 13 points, but are ranked second and third due to goal difference. After the departure of the entire MSN trio, Paris Saint-Germain lacks world-class stars, giving other teams hope of winning the league title.

Rennes, plagued by multi-front battles last season, finished only 10th. This season, they brought in new signings such as Erik, Faye, Carlos Gómez, and Glen Kamara in the transfer market, as well as Portuguese forward Jota from Al Ittihad Jeddah. However, they have only managed 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in the first 5 rounds, accumulating 7 points and temporarily ranking 8th. Rennes has only scored 9 goals in 5 games, averaging just 1.8 goals per game, while conceding 6 goals, indicating room for improvement on both offense and defense.

Paris Saint-Germain has won all three home games in the new season, scoring 10 goals and conceding only 1, keeping clean sheets in two matches. Rennes, on the other hand, has a dismal record of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 7 losses in their last 10 away games. However, in the last 10 encounters between the two sides, each team has won 4 times with 2 draws, showing a balanced matchup.

Overall, Paris Saint-Germain is currently in better form, bolstered by the advantage of playing at home, making it difficult for Rennes to take even a point away.

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