PSG 0-2 Rennes: Player ratings as Messi booed in Ligue 1 defeat
PSG suffered their second defeat in three games at home to Rennes, and didn't deserve anything more, being second best from the off.
The away side made a strong start to the match, having the first two efforts on goal but failing to test Gianluigi Donnarumma with either of them.
PSG settled into proceedings after the opening 10 minutes, seeing more of the ball, but didn't dominate by any means with neither side able to take control of the contest and come close to getting the opening goal.
The first major chances of the day came from Kylian Mbappe getting in behind the Rennes defence with runs from deep, but his first effort was ruled out for offside and his second went narrowly wide of the goal.
He had another one saved by Steve Mandanda towards the end of the first half and was made to pay for his miss soon afterwards with Karl Toko Ekambi controlling a ball over the top and firing past Donnarumma just before the break.
Things then went from bad to worse for the reigning Ligue 1 champions straight after it with former player Arnaud Kalimuendo tapping in a square ball from Lesley Ugochukwu to make it 2-0 with 48 minutes gone.
It became a game of attack vs. defence after that with Rennes sitting back to protect their lead and PSG dominating possession but not able to do anything with it, looking toothless in attack despite possessing the talents of Mbappe and Lionel Messi - who was dropping deeper and deeper to try and create something.
So poor were the home side that it looked just as likely to become 3-0 as it did 2-1, with the visitors causing their opponents some real problems on the break. That remained the case until the full-time whistle as Rennes ultimately claimed their second-straight win over Christophe Galtier and co with relative ease.
They may win the league again, but with the fans booing Messi throughout and the entire team at the full-time whistle, it's fair to say that things are far from perfect in Paris.
PSG player ratings
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - 4/10 - Let in two of the four shots on target that he faced and could have done better for the first.
CB: Juan Bernat - 4/10 - Didn't look comfortable on or off the ball in an unfamiliar role.
CB: Danilo Pereira - 5/10 - Didn't do too much wrong or right at the back.
CB: El Chadaille Bitshiabu - 6/10 - The 17-year-old looked the best of PSG's defenders, making some good tackles and clearances.
RWB: Timothee Pembele - 3/10 - Was virtually invisible in the half that he played, having just 12 touches of the ball.
CM: Fabian Ruiz - 4/10 - Did precious little with the ball at his feet before being hauled off.
DM: Marco Verratti - 7/10 - Was PSG's best player, although that's a low bar. He dictated things well at the heart of midfield.
CM: Vitinha - 5/10 - Made a few decent passes but was quiet for the vast majority of the game.
LWB: Nuno Mendes - 5/10 - Was decent going forward but often left his side exposed at the back.
ST: Lionel Messi - 6/10 - Was the only PSG player that looked like creating anything, but seemed somewhat disinterested and there was a sense that he never really left second gear. The boos from his own fans can't have helped - it is starting to seem a somewhat unhappy marriage.
ST: Kylian Mbappe - 2/10 - Missed some good chances and was too selfish at times.
Substitutes
Warren Zaire-Emery (46' for Pembele) - 5/10
Hugo Ekitike (56' for Ruiz) - 6/10
Renato Sanches (56' for Bernat) - 5/10
Manager
Christophe Galtier - 2/10 - Hasn't been helped by injuries, but couldn't get his side to look dangerous going forward or stable at the back throughout the game.
Rennes player ratings
GK: Steve Mandanda (8); CB: Warmed Omari (6); CB: Christopher Wooh (7); CB: Arthur Theate (7); RWB: Djed Spence (7); CM: Benjamin Bourigeaud (8); CM: Lesley Ugochukwu (7); LWB: Adrien Truffert (6); RW: Desire Doue (7); ST: Arnaud Kalimuendo (7); LW: Karl Toko Ekambi (8)
Substitutes: Birger Meling, Amini Gouiri, Baptiste Santamaria, Hamari Traore, Ibrahim Salah