The Rennes stunner, a 3-1 victory over PSG, has left the French league reeling, as a team without a coach turned in one of the season’s biggest shocks and handed the leaders their third defeat of the campaign.
It happened on Friday night at a rocking Roazhon Park. Rennes, fresh off sacking their manager Habib Beye earlier in the week, came out firing and caught PSG cold.
Mousa Al-Tamari opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a smart finish that had the home crowd on its feet. Then Esteban Lepaul doubled the lead just after the hour mark, slotting home from close range.
PSG pulled one back through Ousmane Dembélé in the 71st minute, but Breel Embolo sealed it for Rennes nine minutes later, making it 3-1 and sending the stadium into absolute pandemonium.
You could feel the frustration from the PSG players as the final whistle blew. They had dominated possession in patches, but Rennes stayed organised, defended like lions, and hit them on the break.
Goalkeeper Brice Samba pulled off some big saves too, keeping the visitors at bay when it mattered most. For Rennes, it ended a five-game winless run and lifted them up to fifth in the table. Not bad for a side that walked into the match in turmoil.
PSG still sit top with 51 points from 22 games, but the gap is shrinking. Lens, sitting on 49 from 21, can leapfrog them with a win over Paris FC on Saturday.
That adds extra pressure on Luis Enrique’s men as they chase another title. This loss wasn’t just a blip either. It exposed some familiar issues – a slow start, individual errors, and a lack of that old team spirit.
Dembélé, who scored the consolation goal, didn’t hold back in his post-match chat. Speaking to Ligue 1 media, the forward laid it out plain. “Last season, we put the club, the badge, and Paris Saint-Germain first before thinking about ourselves,” he said. “We need to find that again, especially in these kinds of matches. We got off to a very poor start.”
He kept going, sounding like a captain even if he’s not wearing the armband. “We need to show more desire; above all, we need to play for Paris Saint-Germain to be able to win matches. If everyone plays for themselves on the pitch, it’s not going to work; we’re not going to win the titles we want.”
Those words hit hard because they came from someone who’s been PSG’s standout performer this season. Dembélé has carried them at times with his pace and creativity, but even he could see the selfishness creeping in.
Fans on social media picked up on it straight away. Clips of his interview spread fast, with one X post racking up thousands of likes: “Dembélé calling out the squad – respect for keeping it real.”
Betting folks took a proper hit too. Plenty had loaded up on PSG to win comfortably, given their form and the fact Rennes were in disarray. Odds were heavily in Paris’s favour, but the upset left a lot of tickets in the bin. One popular betting account tweeted, “Rennes 3-1 PSG… the script writes itself sometimes,” along with a meme of shocked punters.
For Rennes, this win feels like a turning point. They’ve been through a lot lately – poor results, the coaching change – but the players showed real character. Al-Tamari, the Jordanian international, has been a bright spark all year, and his goal set the tone. Lepaul and Embolo added the finishing touches, while the defence held firm against waves of PSG attacks.
The match itself had that classic Ligue 1 drama. Early chances for both sides, but Rennes took theirs. PSG pushed hard after going behind, but the hosts stayed compact and clinical. By the end, the home supporters were singing non-stop, and you could see the relief on the faces of the Rennes players as they celebrated in front of the stands.
This result comes at a busy time for PSG. They’ve got Champions League playoffs on the horizon against Monaco, and domestic form has dipped a touch. Enrique will be poring over the footage, trying to fix whatever went wrong in Brittany. The squad has talent to burn, but as Dembélé pointed out, talent alone won’t cut it if heads aren’t in the right place.
Online, the reaction has been a mix of shock, memes, and serious debate. Some PSG fans blamed the coach; others blamed the players for switching off.
Rennes supporters, meanwhile, are loving the moment, flooding timelines with “We did it without a boss” posts. One viral video shows the full-time celebrations, with flares going off and players mobbing each other.
It all adds to the intrigue in Ligue 1 this season. PSG have looked untouchable at times, but nights like this remind everyone that nothing is guaranteed. Rennes have given themselves a fighting chance at a strong finish, maybe even Europe if they keep this up.
As the dust settles, Dembélé’s honest words might be the most important takeaway. In a team full of stars, remembering who you’re playing for can make all the difference. PSG have the quality to bounce back, but they’ll need to show that hunger he talked about. For Rennes, it’s proof that even in chaos, football can deliver magic.
The title race just got a whole lot more interesting. And with Lens breathing down their necks, PSG can’t afford many more slip-ups like this. Friday’s result at Roazhon Park will be talked about for weeks – a proper reminder that underdogs still have their day.
