Paris Saint-Germain’s troublesome return to membership soccer because the FIFA 2022 World Cup continues after a 1-0 loss away at Stade Rennais in Ligue 1 on Sunday. It was not solely the French champions’ second consecutive topflight defeat but it surely additionally reignited the title race in Le Championnat with the in-form RC Lens now inside three factors off Les Parisiens.
Perhaps most concerningly of all for PSG is that there’s lower than a month till UEFA Champions League motion returns and Christophe Galtier’s males look a shadow of their early season model. Hamari Traore did the harm for Rennes at Roazhon Park for a depleted dwelling aspect however the one-goal margin was not even half of the guests’ story.
Had Gianluigi Donnarumma not made a number of spectacular and necessary saves, PSG would have been buried by two or three targets as a substitute of only one. The capital outfit’s assault featured world champion Lionel Messi and Brazilian famous person Neymar from the off and had French golden boy Kylian Mbappe added to it earlier than the hour mark.
Despite all of this unimaginable firepower, PSG may solely muster one single shot on the right track in Brittany and that got here late within the recreation as soon as all three had been on the sphere. Neymar’s displaying was significantly regarding each from a technical but additionally psychological standpoint whereas Messi didn’t look a lot better after making a scoring return vs. Angers SCO in midweek.
“I’m particularly dissatisfied by our displaying,” mentioned Galtier. “We created nothing and had only a few good conditions. We targeted on getting possession and much too many people dropped again with out sufficient gamers excessive as much as occupy the Rennes defenders. We knew that we risked being uncovered. I at all times have a plan with Neymar and Leo, however we should additionally discover different choices. We had no actual focus so the 2 stalled as soon as we received the ball and located few attacking choices.”
Marco Verratti’s newest damage is worrying as his absence has coincided with a significant lack of fluency even though he was current for the primary lack of the marketing campaign in Lens. Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Carlos Soler and Danilo Pereira have struggled to stability the lack of the Italian schemer and 16-year-old Warren Zaire Emery is simply too younger to be anticipated to seamlessly orchestrate.
There are extra questions than ever earlier than relating to captain Marquinhos‘ now extended drop in type and veteran Sergio Ramos instantly appears to be like each bit as somebody pushing 37 years of age. This additionally prompts the query about squad depth in protection with sporting advisor Luis Campos vocal earlier within the season concerning the failure to land Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar.
“Two losses already, we have to be extra strong and intense straight away,” mentioned Marquinhos. “These video games play out on small particulars they usually made us pay for them. We know that we have to rebuild our understanding as quickly as potential as we’re leaking factors. These factors will rely on the finish of the season — particularly away from dwelling.”
“It is irritating to lose a recreation like that,” added Hugo Ekitike. “I feel that we lacked a little bit of all the things. It was actually disappointing. We must bounce again collectively. I’m discovering my toes a bit, however I can’t be glad with the sport. I had little to feed on and I’ll work tougher as I wish to rating extra targets.”
The temptation can be to say that placing Mbappe again into the beginning XI will resolve this sluggishness however the France worldwide was additionally there for Lens and was powerless. This wobbly type has been current because the return to home motion in reality with a debatable late penalty securing a 2-1 win over struggling RC Strasbourg Alsace earlier than the defeat to Lens.
The Northerners themselves are additionally a think about PSG’s struggles given their relentless pursuit which has featured an unimaginable 10-game profitable run at Stade Bollaert this time period. There can also be the query of post-World Cup freshness with PSG having to relaxation various star names whereas Bayern Munich will return to home motion having completely rested up.
With 4 video games towards beatable opponents earlier than UCL return, Galtier and his males can not afford to let this malaise deepen additional.
